Key Findings

The Clean Energy Solutions Index 2026 tracks how public support for Australia’s clean energy transition is evolving — now with two years of comparable data.

Read on for key findings and analysis from Wave 2, including year-on-year comparisons across all 11 solutions and six states.

National score

In 2026, The overall one-number Index score measuring deep support for the 11 clean energy solutions is 61 out of 100.

This represents an uplift of one point on the 2025 score of 60, confirming that deep support for clean energy solutions is increasing across Australia.

At 61 out of 100, the national Index score has moved in the right direction since 2025. With deep support holding firm or growing across the majority of solutions and most states, the conditions for continued uplift toward a score of 70 are in place.

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“This is the second annual report of the Index, and it represents a significant milestone. For the first time, the Index can do what it was always designed to do: track change. Year-on-year comparison reveals not just where Australians stand, but which way they are moving."

– Dr Rebecca Huntley, Director of Research, 89 Degrees East

Five key insights from 2026

Results to watch

Deep support for clean energy solutions is growing,

with the national Index score rising to 61 out of 100. Up +1 point on 2025, the score has moved in the right direction across the majority of solutions and most states.

Solar solutions lead

Solar panel installation and solar battery installation are the only two solutions to exceed the 70-point deep support threshold. At 82 and 75, respectively, both are driven primarily by Australians’ desire to reduce household energy bills.

Gas-free solutions remain the least supported

With gas-free home conversion (48) and gas-free industry conversion (49) recording the lowest scores of any solutions. Opposition is anchored in a preference for gas appliances and the belief that gas remains essential for industry and business.

Largest uplift of support for electric vehicle purchases

Deep support for electric vehicle purchase has recorded the largest uplift of any solution, jumping +6 points to 50. The driver is economic: the proportion of Australians citing cheaper running costs and petrol savings as a reason for their support has grown +14% to 67%, reflecting the direct impact of rising fuel prices.

Infrastructure support is strengthening,

but land use concerns are growing among those who oppose these solutions. Renewable energy transmission has gained +5 points to 61, while concerns about farming and agricultural land impacts have risen across both transmission lines (+10%) and solar farms (+2%).

Support for clean energy solutions

Each of the 11 clean energy solutions has its own support score which is derived from the 4 key metrics.

Installing solar panels at home consistently ranks as the most widely supported solution across all categories.

This reflects the finding that Australians are more willing to support proven, visible solutions over those that may still feel aspirational.

Use the tabs to see all solutions.

Across nearly all Home Solutions, the upfront cost is a commonly cited reason for opposition. Cost to the taxpayer is a driver of the lower levels of support for infrastructure.

While many Australians personally support each Infrastructure Solution, their perception of community support for onshore and offshore wind farms for instance, often lags behind.

Australians are consistently less likely to advocate for Industry Solutions despite their personal support for manufacturing renewable components and building renewable transmission lines, for instance.

Home solutions

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100

Installing solar panels at home

Solar panel installation retains the highest Index score of any clean energy solution at 82 (up 1 point on 2025) with small but consistent gains across three of the four deep support metrics

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100

Installing a solar battery at home

Deep support for home solar batteries has strengthened to 75 (+2pt on 2025) with consistent uplift across all four metrics.

+6

100

Electric vehicle purchase

Electric vehicle purchase has recorded the largest uplift of any solution at 50, up 6 points on 2025, driven primarily by a sharp rise in Australians citing cheaper running costs and petrol savings as the key reason for their support (+14% to 67%).

-

100

Converting your home to be free from gas

Gas-free home conversion remains the lowest-scoring home solution at 48, unchanged on 2025, with opposition anchored in a preference for gas appliances, particularly for cooking (62%).

Infrastructure solutions

+5

100

Building renewable energy transmission lines

Renewable energy transmission has recorded the second-largest uplift of any solution at 61 (up 5 points on 2025) with strong and consistent gains across all four deep support metrics.

-1

100

Building solar farms

Solar farms remain the highest-scoring infrastructure solution at 67, easing marginally by 1 point on 2025.

-1

100

Building onshore wind farms

Onshore wind has eased marginally to 56, down 1 point on 2025, with concerns about farming land loss growing among those who oppose (+6% to 65%).

-

100

Building offshore wind farms

Offshore wind is unchanged at 53, with deep support holding steady.

Industry solutions

-3

100

Converting factories and industry to be free from gas

Gas-free industry conversion has recorded the largest decline of any solution in 2026 at 49, down 3 points on 2025, with all four deep support metrics falling.

-1

100

Establishing a green metals industry in Australia

The green metals industry has eased slightly to 58, down 1 point on 2025.

+1

100

Manufacturing renewable energy components in Australia

Renewable energy component manufacturing is the highest-scoring industry solution and the only industry solution to record uplift in 2026 at 68 (up 1 point on 2025).

State results

The one-number support score for each state was at least 57 or higher.

The highest support scores were recorded in Western Australia and Tasmania.

100

Overall support

Home solutions

100

Solar panel installation

100

Solar battery installation

100

Electric vehicle purchase

100

Gas-free home conversion

Industry solutions

100

Renewable energy transmission

100

Solar farms

100

Offshore wind farms

100

Onshore wind farms

Industry solutions

100

Gas free industry conversion

100

Renewable energy components manufacturing

100

Green metals industry

100

Overall support

Home solutions

100

Solar panel installation

100

Solar battery installation

100

Electric vehicle purchase

100

Gas-free home conversion

Industry solutions

100

Renewable energy transmission

100

Solar farms

100

Offshore wind farms

100

Onshore wind farms

Industry solutions

100

Gas free industry conversion

100

Renewable energy components manufacturing

100

Green metals industry

100

Overall support

Home solutions

100

Solar panel installation

100

Solar battery installation

100

Electric vehicle purchase

100

Gas-free home conversion

Industry solutions

100

Renewable energy transmission

100

Solar farms

100

Offshore wind farms

100

Onshore wind farms

Industry solutions

100

Gas free industry conversion

100

Renewable energy components manufacturing

100

Green metals industry

100

Overall support

Home solutions

100

Solar panel installation

100

Solar battery installation

100

Electric vehicle purchase

100

Gas-free home conversion

Industry solutions

100

Renewable energy transmission

100

Solar farms

100

Offshore wind farms

100

Onshore wind farms

Industry solutions

100

Gas free industry conversion

100

Renewable energy components manufacturing

100

Green metals industry

100

Overall support

Home solutions

100

Solar panel installation

100

Solar battery installation

100

Electric vehicle purchase

100

Gas-free home conversion

Industry solutions

100

Renewable energy transmission

100

Solar farms

100

Offshore wind farms

100

Onshore wind farms

Industry solutions

100

Gas free industry conversion

100

Renewable energy components manufacturing

100

Green metals industry

100

Overall support

Home solutions

100

Solar panel installation

100

Solar battery installation

100

Electric vehicle purchase

100

Gas-free home conversion

Industry solutions

100

Renewable energy transmission

100

Solar farms

100

Offshore wind farms

100

Onshore wind farms

Industry solutions

100

Gas free industry conversion

100

Renewable energy components manufacturing

100

Green metals industry

Index Metrics

The one-suport score for each solution is made up of four separate metrics: personal support, good for Australia, perceived support in local community and willingness to advocate. This data allows us to understand what may be driving support or what barriers exist for each solution.

Community perception often trails personal support

While many Australians personally support each solution, their perception of community support often lags behind. This difference is most stark when it comes to infrastructure solutions, and in particular, wind farms.

Personal support does not necessarily translate into advocacy

While many Australians personally support clean energy solutions, they’re consistently less likely to speak positively about them with others. This gap is especially clear for industry and infrastructure solutions where knowledge may be lacking.

Analysis

Solutions that offer both climate and economic benefits, either at the national or household level, are especially well supported.

Clean energy solutions that are arguably well-known and that Australians have more experience with receive stronger support.

Solutions associated with solar attract higher levels of support.

The support is tied to familiarity: the better Australians know and understand a solution, the more likely they are to back it.

Building familiarity has the potential to be a powerful driver of public support.

Solutions associated with domestic manufacturing enjoy higher levels of support.

This reflects a broader appetite for solutions that deliver dual benefits: tackling climate change while strengthening Australian industry and creating jobs.

Any solution that requires a shift away from gas has somewhat less support.

A lack of direct experience of electric alternatives appears to create uncertainty.

Just as familiarity drives support, unfamiliarity with electrification presents a barrier.

How to cite this data

Recommended citation format:

Clean Energy Solutions Index 2026, 89 Degrees East and Boundless Earth, [month] 2026.

Available at: cleanenergysolutionsindex.com.au

What does the Clean Energy Solutions Index 2025 tell us?

Read the latest report

The Clean Energy Solutions Index 2026 report provides a comprehensive overview of Wave 2 findings, including year-on-year comparisons.