Five renewable energy projects totaling 1.4 GW of new generation capacity and 2.3 GW/7.1 GWh of battery energy storage capacity came online across Australia in the first six months of 2026.
A new report shows that more renewable generation capacity – led predominantly by solar farms and hybrid solar-and-battery projects – reached financial close, and more large-scale battery energy storage was switched on across Australia in the first half of the year than across all of 2025.
The Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) “Bi-annual investment report: Large-scale renewable generation and storage (January-June 2026)” ” also shows that five generation projects totalling 1.4 GW of new capacity and worth more than AUD 2.8 billion ($1.97 billion) were commissioned and started operations during the first half of this year.
The CEC said the rolling 12-month quarterly average for newly commissioned capacity has now reached 912 MW, up 56% compared to the same period 12 months ago, and the highest rolling average seen since the first quarter of 2022. A further eight generation projects totaling about 1.9 GW began construction in the first half of 2026.
In addition to the new generation projects, nine battery energy storage projects worth $4.3 billion and representing 2.3 GW/7.1 GWh of storage capacity were also switched on in the first six months of the year, surpassing the 2 GW/5.1 GWh added during 2025.
The report also shows that more new generation capacity reached financial close across Australia in the first half of 2026 than in the whole of 2025 with 12 projects totalling 2.6 GW securing finance, compared with 2.3 GW across all of last year. Utility-scale solar drove the new commitments with 11 of the 12 projects solar or solar hybrids with one onshore wind project also reaching financial close.
A further 13 large-scale battery energy storage projects totalling 1.6 GW/6.5 GWh also reached financial close in the first half of 2026, including a record 6.3 GWh in the June quarter.
CEC Chief Executive Officer Jackie Trad said the results show the resilience and growth of the clean energy industry in the face of difficult headwinds.
“Australian sun and wind cannot be cut off by conflict overseas,” she said. “Each new solar, wind and battery investment helps make Australia more energy independent and economically resilient, shielding Australians from global fossil fuel price shocks and supply disruptions.”
The CEC said there are now 141 renewable energy generation and battery energy storage projects worth around $32.5 billion are now funded or under construction across Australia. This includes 76 generation projects totalling 11.7 GW and 79 storage projects, either standalone or hybrid projects, equivalent to 12.6 GW/35 GWh.
Solar accounts for 53% of generation capacity at financial close or under construction, and Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia all share approximately 27% of solar capacity either at financial close or under construction,
Queensland holds the largest share of pipeline investment, accounting for $9.6 billion and 4.5 GW in projects that are currently at financial close or are under construction. New South Wales has the largest battery storage pipeline at 4.3 GW/11.2 GWh.
“Queensland is leading the nation in clean energy investment, showing what can be achieved when world-class renewable energy resources are matched with investor confidence,” Trad said. “But the story is bigger than any one state or territory; across Australia, investors are backing the technologies they know will power our economic future and strengthen our energy security.”
Trad did however warn that clean energy investment is not immune to tougher conditions and said confidence appears to be softening, particularly for onshore wind, with investors naming approvals and transmission as their biggest obstacles.
“With $32.5 billion worth of generation and storage projects now under construction or at financial close, maintaining this momentum will require predictable approvals, timely transmission and long-term revenue certainty to help more projects, including onshore wind, progress into operation,” she said.
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