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Quarterly Carbon Market Reports

The Clean Energy Regulator’s Quarterly Carbon Market Report provides a regular view of supply and demand across the carbon markets we administer – large-scale generation certificate (LGCs), small-scale technology certificate (STCs) and Australian carbon credit unit (ACCUs). It explores key factors that influence market performance and provides information on trends and opportunities that may inform market decisions.

Highlights for Quarter 4 2020

All carbon markets have continued to produce strong results:

Emissions reduction from schemes administered by the Clean Energy Regulator reached 53 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-e) in 2020 and is expected to increase to 57 million tonnes in 2021.
A record 7 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity was delivered across Australia in 2020, up 11% from the 6.3 GW in 2019. Of this, 4 GW was large-scale (2.3 GW wind and 1.7 GW solar) and 3 GW was rooftop solar PV.
The Large-scale Renewable Energy Target of 33,000 GWh was met at the end of January 2021. The Clean Energy Regulator expects eligible generation could reach 40,000 GWh in 2021.
Australian carbon credit unit (ACCU) supply reached a record 16 million in 2020, up 8% from 14.8 million in 2019. Further supply growth is expected in 2021 reaching over 17 million.
158 projects were registered under the Emissions Reduction Fund in 2020, four times as many compared to 2019. This significant increase will likely contribute to ACCU supply growth in 2022 and beyond.
Demand from the voluntary private and state and territory government market surged in 2020 with 4.9 million Australian units and certificates surrendered, four times the volume of 2019.

For more detail, see the Quarterly Carbon Market Report – Quarter 4 December 2020 and data workbook – Quarter 4 December 2020.

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