Australia Coal Power: Generation, Share and Trend
Australia generated 122 TWh of electricity from coal in 2025, 42.7% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 10th largest coal power producer in 2025 of the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Coal supplied 33.1% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through August 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- Australia generated 122 TWh of electricity from coal in 2025.
- Coal supplied 42.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025.
- Australia was the 10th largest coal power producer in 2025 among the 85 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- Australia's coal generation in 2025 was 14% lower than in 2020, when it was 143 TWh.
- Australia's coal generation in 2025 was 25% lower than in 2015, when it was 162 TWh.
- Australia's coal generation peaked at 186 TWh in 2006.
- Australia's coal share in 2025 was above the world share of 33.1%.
- Australia had 22.6 GW of coal generating capacity in 2025.
- Coal power in Australia emitted 108 MtCO2 in 2025, 72% of the power sector's emissions.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Coal generation | 122 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of Australia's electricity | 42.7% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of coal | 33.1% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by coal generation (each country's latest year) | 10 of 85 | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal capacity | 22.6 GW | 2025 · Ember |
| Coal power emissions | 108 MtCO2 | 2025 · Ember |
Coal Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
| Year | Coal |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 89.4 TWh |
| 1986 | 92.6 TWh |
| 1987 | 100 TWh |
| 1988 | 106 TWh |
| 1989 | 114 TWh |
| 1990 | 123 TWh |
| 1991 | 127 TWh |
| 1992 | 130 TWh |
| 1993 | 133 TWh |
| 1994 | 137 TWh |
| 1995 | 142 TWh |
| 1996 | 148 TWh |
| 1997 | 157 TWh |
| 1998 | 166 TWh |
| 1999 | 171 TWh |
| 2000 | 180 TWh |
| 2001 | 180 TWh |
| 2002 | 172 TWh |
| 2003 | 174 TWh |
| 2004 | 179 TWh |
| 2005 | 183 TWh |
| 2006 | 186 TWh |
| 2007 | 185 TWh |
| 2008 | 184 TWh |
| 2009 | 182 TWh |
| 2010 | 176 TWh |
| 2011 | 172 TWh |
| 2012 | 165 TWh |
| 2013 | 155 TWh |
| 2014 | 155 TWh |
| 2015 | 162 TWh |
| 2016 | 162 TWh |
| 2017 | 159 TWh |
| 2018 | 157 TWh |
| 2019 | 150 TWh |
| 2020 | 143 TWh |
| 2021 | 137 TWh |
| 2022 | 129 TWh |
| 2023 | 126 TWh |
| 2024 | 127 TWh |
| 2025 | 122 TWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | Australia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 72.3% | n/a |
| 1986 | 71.5% | n/a |
| 1987 | 73.9% | n/a |
| 1988 | 73.9% | n/a |
| 1989 | 75.0% | n/a |
| 1990 | 79.3% | n/a |
| 1991 | 80.5% | n/a |
| 1992 | 80.6% | n/a |
| 1993 | 80.6% | n/a |
| 1994 | 80.5% | n/a |
| 1995 | 81.0% | n/a |
| 1996 | 82.4% | n/a |
| 1997 | 83.3% | n/a |
| 1998 | 83.2% | n/a |
| 1999 | 82.7% | n/a |
| 2000 | 83.1% | 38.0% |
| 2001 | 80.2% | 38.0% |
| 2002 | 76.9% | 38.3% |
| 2003 | 76.8% | 39.5% |
| 2004 | 78.1% | 39.0% |
| 2005 | 79.3% | 39.5% |
| 2006 | 78.1% | 40.2% |
| 2007 | 76.3% | 40.8% |
| 2008 | 75.1% | 40.2% |
| 2009 | 72.8% | 39.9% |
| 2010 | 70.1% | 39.8% |
| 2011 | 67.1% | 40.6% |
| 2012 | 66.0% | 39.9% |
| 2013 | 62.3% | 40.8% |
| 2014 | 62.7% | 40.5% |
| 2015 | 63.9% | 38.7% |
| 2016 | 62.9% | 37.8% |
| 2017 | 61.5% | 38.0% |
| 2018 | 59.6% | 38.0% |
| 2019 | 56.4% | 36.7% |
| 2020 | 53.9% | 35.4% |
| 2021 | 51.4% | 36.0% |
| 2022 | 47.3% | 35.6% |
| 2023 | 46.0% | 35.2% |
| 2024 | 45.2% | 34.2% |
| 2025 | 42.7% | 33.1% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity | Emissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 122 TWh | 42.7% | 33.1% | 22.6 GW | 108 MtCO2 |
| 2024 | 127 TWh | 45.2% | 34.2% | 22.8 GW | 112 MtCO2 |
| 2023 | 126 TWh | 46.0% | 35.2% | 22.9 GW | 111 MtCO2 |
| 2022 | 129 TWh | 47.3% | 35.6% | 24.4 GW | 114 MtCO2 |
| 2021 | 137 TWh | 51.4% | 36.0% | 25.1 GW | 121 MtCO2 |
| 2020 | 143 TWh | 53.9% | 35.4% | 25.1 GW | 126 MtCO2 |
| 2019 | 150 TWh | 56.4% | 36.7% | 25.1 GW | 132 MtCO2 |
| 2018 | 157 TWh | 59.6% | 38.0% | 25.1 GW | 138 MtCO2 |
| 2017 | 159 TWh | 61.5% | 38.0% | 25.1 GW | 140 MtCO2 |
| 2016 | 162 TWh | 62.9% | 37.8% | 26.9 GW | 143 MtCO2 |
Full year by year history for Australia
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.
Coal Generation Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through August 2026Monthly statistics through August 2026, TWh
| Month | Coal |
|---|---|
| 2024-09 | 9.06 TWh |
| 2024-10 | 8.89 TWh |
| 2024-11 | 9.05 TWh |
| 2024-12 | 10.0 TWh |
| 2025-01 | 10.6 TWh |
| 2025-02 | 9.67 TWh |
| 2025-03 | 11.1 TWh |
| 2025-04 | 9.88 TWh |
| 2025-05 | 10.7 TWh |
| 2025-06 | 11.4 TWh |
| 2025-07 | 11.8 TWh |
| 2025-08 | 10.9 TWh |
| 2025-09 | 8.80 TWh |
| 2025-10 | 8.75 TWh |
| 2025-11 | 8.71 TWh |
| 2025-12 | 9.22 TWh |
| 2026-01 | 9.86 TWh |
| 2026-02 | 9.36 TWh |
| 2026-03 | 10.5 TWh |
| 2026-04 | 9.37 TWh |
| 2026-05 | 10.3 TWh |
| 2026-06 | 10.5 TWh |
| 2026-07 | 11.6 TWh |
| 2026-08 | 10.9 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of August 2026. Monthly figures for Australia can differ slightly from the annual totals.