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Energy Account, Australia

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This publication presents physical estimates of energy supply and use, including renewable energy use, end use, COVID-19 impacts, and energy stocks.

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Reference period
2020-21 financial year
Released
27/04/2023
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Key statistics

  • Australia’s net energy supply decreased by 6.9% in 2020-21 to 23,930 PJ.
  • Energy exports decreased by 7.0% to 18,338 PJ.
  • Household energy end use remained steady at 1,215 PJ.
  • Industry energy end use decreased by 4.3% to 2,676 PJ.
  • Renewable energy extraction (hydro, solar, and wind energy) increased by 18.5% to 263 PJ.

Supply

Australia's energy was supplied from: 

  • Domestic production (29,980 PJ)
  • Imported products (2,044 PJ).

 

Of domestic production, 21,886 PJ was directly extracted from the environment

  • Black coal (11,464 PJ of which 90% was exported)
  • Natural gas (5,730 PJ of which 75% was exported as LNG)
  • Uranium (2,920 PJ of which 99% was exported)
  • Crude oil and feedstocks (718 PJ of which 83% was exported)
  • LPG (160 PJ of which 81% was exported)
  • Brown coal (430 PJ)
  • Biofuels (24 PJ)
  • Wood and wood waste (88 PJ)
  • Bagasse (88 PJ)
  • Solar energy (120 PJ)
  • Wind energy (88 PJ)
  • Hydro energy (55 PJ).

Renewable energy use

The use of renewable energy by the electricity industry continued to increase (up 18.5% to 263 PJ). The main sources of renewable energy in 2020-21 were:

  • Solar energy up 27.7% to 120 PJ
  • Wind energy up 20.5% to 88 PJ
  • Hydro energy steady at 55 PJ.

End use

Total end use by industry was 2,676 PJ, down 4.3% and total end use by households was steady at 1,215 PJ. 

End use of selected industries:

  • Transport, storage and services down 24.1% to 465 PJ
  • Manufacturing up 1.1% to 909 PJ
  • Mining down by 0.9% to 564 PJ.

COVID-19 Impacts

In 2020-21, the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on energy supply and use. Stay at home orders and increases in people working from home saw household consumption of electricity increase and household use of fuel decrease. Border closures restricted air travel resulting in substantial drops in aviation fuel use.

  • Household use of Electricity up 5.0% to 231 PJ.
  • Household use of Fuel down 4.1% to 658 PJ.
  • Air transport industry use of Other refined fuels down 53.5% to 127 PJ.

Energy stocks

The stocks of economically demonstrated energy resources have generally increased in 2021-22:

  • Black coal stocks up 5.7% to 2,567,700 PJ.
  • Natural gas stocks up 5.7% to 201,780 PJ.
  • Uranium stocks down 0.4% to 689,304 PJ.
  • Brown coal stocks down 5.1% to 735,980 PJ.

 

Defining economically demonstrated energy resources

Consists of known deposits of coal, oil, gas or other fuels and metallic ores, and non-metallic minerals, etc., that are located below or on the earth's surface, including deposits under the sea, that are economically exploitable given current technology and relative prices.

Changes in this issue

The sources and methods for the Energy Account, Australia (EAA) are currently being updated. As a result data relating to monetary supply and use of energy have not been included in this edition. Data based on the updated approach will be progressively released from November 2023. Information relating to the new methods will also be provided at the time of release.

In addition, revisions may be seen in prior years due to revisions in the source data.  

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Energy Account, Australia 2020-21

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Methodology

Energy Account, Australia methodology, 2020-21 financial year