Australian retailers are taking the lead when it comes to renewable energy with almost double the commitments of any other industry, new data from Greenpeace Australia Pacific has revealed.

The REenergise 2020 Corporate Renewable Snapshot – the first ever Australian report calculating the cumulative impact of corporate 100% renewable energy commitments – found that renewable electricity targets of 28 of Australia’s largest companies will drive 2.8GW of new renewable projects in coming years. 

Retailers were the clear frontrunners with 1146MW of clean energy commitments, with the next best performing industry, telecommunications, trailing at 713MW. Many of the companies made their commitments through the global RE100 initiative.

REenergise campaign director, Lindsay Soutar said it should come as no surprise that retailers are out in front in the race to renewable energy.

“Australian companies made a huge leap forward on the switch to 100% renewable electricity in 2020, with clean energy commitments by major Australian businesses now set to create solar and wind power equivalent to powering all the homes in Brisbane and Perth combined,” she said.

“Major chains such as Woolworths, Bunnings and ALDI committing to 100% renewable energy saw retail eclipse other industries. Retailers signing deals with wind and solar farms in regional Australia and using their abundant roof space to host solar panels, has seen them get out in front of Australia’s rapid transition to clean energy.”

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is now calling on major retail brands like Coles and Kmart to ramp up their climate commitments and switch to 100% renewable electricity.