The latest Clean Energy Solutions Index shows support for electric vehicles and home batteries has reached record highs as Australians increasingly back technologies that help cut household costs while improving energy security.
Australians are strengthening their support for clean energy, with the 2026 Clean Energy Solutions Index recording higher levels of ‘deep support’ across the sector and the strongest growth in technologies that deliver clear financial benefits for households.
National support for Australia’s clean energy transition remains strong, with the Index’s overall score increasing from 60 to 61, continuing its steady progress towards the long-term benchmark of 70, which is the measure of deep support.
The annual Clean Energy Solutions Index measures the nation’s ‘deep support’ from 11 home, infrastructure and industry clean energy solutions across four dimensions: if people believe a solution is good for Australia, if they support it, if they believe their local community supports it and whether they would speak positively about it.
Key findings from this year’s Index include:
- Australia’s overall deep support score increased from 60 to 61.
- Home solar batteries still remain among the nation’s clean energy technologies with the greatest support, with their Index score increasing from 72 to 75.
- Driven by high fuel prices and recognition of fuel cost savings, electric vehicles recorded the largest increase, with deep support rising from 44 to 50.
Dr Rebecca Huntley, Director of Data, Research and Insights at 89 Degrees East, said the findings demonstrated Australians were taking an increasingly practical approach to the energy transition.
Dr Huntley said the Index is designed to grow in value over time:
“This year’s index shows Australians are increasingly supporting clean energy solutions that they believe will improve their day-to-day lives,”
– Dr Huntley.
“Whether it’s lowering energy bills, improving energy security or reducing reliance on global fuel markets, it is clear that cost and practicality are becoming just as important as environmental benefits.”
– Dr Huntley.
Support for clean energy is increasingly driven by economic considerations rather than purely environmental concerns. While the overall proportion of Australians who consider climate change personally important declined slightly, deep support for clean energy continued to increase. This suggests that cost-of-living pressures, energy security and national economic interests are becoming progressively important drivers.
Electric vehicles recorded the largest increase of any technology measured by the index, with the proportion of Australians identifying fuel savings as a reason to support the EVs increasing by 14 percentage points and coinciding with rising fuel prices during the survey period.
Home solar continues to have the highest public support of any technology measured. Rooftop solar scored 82 out of 100, followed by home batteries with 75 out of 100, reflecting the steadily growing confidence in technologies that provide both economic and environmental benefits.
“Tracking these attitudes every year helps us gain an understanding of not just whether Australians support the energy transition, but the factors shaping that support and will propel us to sustained, deep support,”
– Dr Huntley.
“Those insights are incredibly helpful for any organisation working in and around the energy transition, supporting them with effective community engagement to build lasting public confidence.”
– Dr Huntley.
The Clean Energy Solutions Index is a national public resource developed to measure the depth of Australian’s support for the clean energy transition and identify whether greater engagement is needed to strengthen Australia’s social licence for change.
Media Enquiries: info@cleanenergysolutionsindex.com
Dr Rebecca Huntley is available for comment
Dr Rebecca Huntley
89 Degrees East
Director – Data, Research & Insights
rebecca@89degreeseast.com
