Electricity sector emissions and generation data 2021–22

Corporations registered under the  National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (NGER Act) are required to report greenhouse gas emissions, and energy production and consumption to the Clean Energy Regulator (CER), by 31 October each year. By 28 February each year, the CER publishes a point-in-time extract of scope 1, scope 2 emissions and energy production data specific to the electricity sector for the previous financial year.

Unlike the corporate emissions and energy data set, which is published at a controlling corporation level, the electricity sector emissions and production tables below are published at a designated generation facility level. This includes primary fuel source, emissions intensity and grid connection for each generator, as well as aggregated emissions and production for the entire sector.

Designated generation facility data 2021–22

Information as at 28 February 2023.

Notes for publication

• The information contained in this publication is as reported by registered corporations.
• Cells with '0' value reflect instances where controlling corporations have reported zero scope 1 or scope 2 emissions.
• Blank cells represent information that is not being published at this point in time.
• Emissions intensity values are rounded to the nearest two decimal places.
• Columns for 'State', 'Emissions Intensity', 'Grid Connected', 'Grid' and 'Primary Fuel' contain "-" for corporate totals, because these types of data are facility-specific and not applicable at the corporation level.
• In cases where a corporation has responsibility for two or more designated generation facilities, the CER is required to publish both facility specific information and the totals of the designated generation facilities for each controlling corporation.
• Values in the columns for 'State', 'Grid Connected', 'Grid' and 'Primary Fuel' are based on a range of publicly available data including data sourced from the  Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
• The CER may periodically republish NGER data to reflect the most up to date information available and in line with ongoing compliance activity.
• The CER takes all reasonable efforts to ensure the information published on its website is accurate at the time of publication.

We define the following terms for the purposes of electricity emissions and generation data:

• Designated generation facility: A designated generation facility is a facility where the principal activity is electricity production. Facilities that generate electricity for their own use or as a secondary activity are not considered a designated generation facility and therefore not included in this publication.
• Emissions intensity: Emissions intensity data is defined as reported scope 1 emissions divided by reported electricity production. Electricity production is based on total generation reported through NGER, including electricity used by the facility. The emissions intensities in this report are based on data as reported to the CER and no adjustment has been made to reflect any specific circumstances. Emissions intensities elsewhere are more typically measured (including by AEMO) based on electricity sent out to the grid, which results in a higher emissions intensity per designated generation facility.
• Grid-connected: Grid-connected refers to connection to a designated electricity network. The designated electricity networks include the National Electricity Market, the Southwest interconnected system, the Northwest interconnected system, the Darwin to Katherine network, and the Mount Isa-Cloncurry supply network for the purposes of the Safeguard Mechanism.
• Designated generation facility aggregates: If a report submitted under the NGER scheme contains a facility aggregate, and does not include disaggregated information for individual facilities, data will be published at the aggregated level.

Designated generation facilities cannot apply to have their facility level data withheld under section 25 of the NGER Act.

Electricity sector emissions and production data 2021–22

Information as at 28 February 2023.

The CER publishes total electricity generation and emissions data to assist with tracking the sector in relation to the sectoral baseline as set under the Safeguard Mechanism.

Under the Safegu​ard Mechanism, a sectoral baseline applies collectively to grid-connected generators. Under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Rule 2015 the sectoral baseline is set at 198 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), based on electricity sector’s emissions from 2009–10 to 2013–14. If the sectoral baseline is exceeded collectively by grid-connected generators, it will no longer apply, and individual baselines will apply to generators.

In 2021–22, total reported scope 1 emissions from grid-connected generators were 141 million tonnes CO2-e.

Notes for publication

• The information contained in this publication is as reported by registered corporations.
• Facilities may appear twice in the above data where joint venture partners report totals for facilities in joint venture. There is no duplication included in the below totals.
• The CER may periodically republish NGER data to reflect the most up to date information available and in line with ongoing compliance activity.