Australia news live: record renewable capacity added in last quarter of 2025; wage growth expected to remain on hold

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Martin FarrerFebruary 17, 2026 at 08:35 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

In the final quarter of 2025, Australia added a record-breaking 2.1 GW of renewable energy capacity to its electricity grid, primarily through new wind, solar, and battery storage projects. This surge in renewable energy was enough to power Brisbane 1.5 times over and surpassed the previous record set in the third quarter of 2021. Four new utility-scale batteries, totaling 1GW/2.3GWh, were also deployed, tripling the previous quarter's record. The Clean Energy Council reported that 63% of the total renewable generation capacity switched on in 2025 occurred in this final quarter. Overall, 2025 saw 3.3GW of renewable energy brought online, making it the second-largest year for new projects commissioned after 2021. However, wage growth is expected to remain stagnant.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Victoria 40% Petra Stock 40% Melbourne 50% Jackie Trad ×260% Brisbane ×270% Clean Energy Council ×275% Australia 90%

Keywords

renewable energy 100% wage growth 70% electricity grid 70% battery storage 60% wind and solar farms 60% clean energy council 50% investment report 40% political stability 40%