Renewable energy
State of Sustainability Report 2024
This information is part of our State of Sustainability Report 2024.
Each year we commission research to track how Victorians think, feel and act in relation to sustainability and climate change. Our State of Sustainability Report shows where Victoria is doing well, and how we can support communities to be climate resilient.
The 2024 State of Sustainability report highlights an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of a renewable energy transition to Victorians, and educate the community on why it is a critical part of addressing climate change for our state.
The research found that 35% of Victorians report using renewable energy – a similar result to 2023.
Of these, 29% have solar panels (no significant change from 2023, 31%) and an additional 6% buy renewable energy from their retailer. In total, 14% said they bought green power or renewable energy from their retail provider, of these 8% had solar panels and 6% didn’t.
35% of Victorian households use renewable energy. Regional householders are leading the way with their high intake of solar panels.
Victorians most likely to have solar
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Groups of Victorians who are most likely to have solar:
- People 55 years and older (34%)
- Homeowners (39%)
- Those in regions (37%)
Twenty-nine per cent of all Victorians have solar panels.
Of those who do not have solar panels, 1 in 10 (9%) intend to get them in the next couple of years, while almost one-third (32%) say they have no intention of ever getting them.
Solar panels are more prevalent:
- in stand-alone houses (35%) compared to apartments (12%) and townhouses (20%)
- among home owners (39%) compared to renters (10%)
- in regional Victoria (37%) compared to in Melbourne (27%).
Support for renewable energy infrastructure
Most Victorians support renewable energy infrastructure in their local areas. The greatest support is for:
- neighbourhood batteries and rooftop solar (68%)
- offshore wind turbines (66%)
- solar farms (65%)
- large batteries (62%).
Support has slightly declined for solar farms (69% to 65%) and new transmission lines (64% to 60%) since 2023.
For most forms of infrastructure, support is significantly higher among younger people and lower among those aged 55 and older. Support is also higher in Melbourne compared to Victoria’s regional, and higher among men compared to women.
Beliefs about renewable energy
Most Victorians believe renewable energy will create jobs and help address climate change:
- 66% believe tackling climate change in Victoria creates new jobs and investment in ‘clean energy’.
- 64% believe climate change requires urgent action now