Australia vs Italy: Electricity Compared
Australia generated 287 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Italy 266 TWh, according to Ember. Australia's largest source was coal (42.7%); Italy's was gas (47.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 525 gCO2/kWh in Australia and 284 gCO2/kWh in Italy. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.
Key Facts
- Coal supplied 42.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025, against 1.3% in Italy.
- Australia's electricity was 1.8 times as carbon intensive as Italy's in 2025, at 525 gCO2/kWh against 284 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in Australia used 10.63 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.0 times as much as in Italy (5.27 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 38.7% of Australia's electricity in 2025 and 48.8% of Italy's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 287 TWh in Australia and 313 TWh in Italy.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Australia | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 287 TWh | 266 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 287 TWh | 313 TWh |
| Demand per person | 10.63 MWh | 5.27 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 525 gCO2/kWh | 284 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 150 MtCO2 | 75.6 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 38.7% | 48.8% |
| Largest source | Coal 42.7% | Gas 47.3% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generation| Source | Australia | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 16.4% | 47.3% |
| Coal | 42.7% | 1.3% |
| Solar | 19.7% | 16.8% |
| Hydro | 4.3% | 15.8% |
| Wind | 13.7% | 8.1% |
| Bioenergy | 1.1% | 5.9% |
| Other fossil | 2.2% | 2.6% |
| Other renewables | 0.0% | 2.3% |
Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Australia | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 759 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1986 | 761 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1987 | 772 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1988 | 771 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1989 | 777 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
| 1990 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 564 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 534 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 527 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 786 gCO2/kWh | 518 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 788 gCO2/kWh | 518 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 793 gCO2/kWh | 542 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 795 gCO2/kWh | 525 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 800 gCO2/kWh | 520 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 804 gCO2/kWh | 520 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 803 gCO2/kWh | 501 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 806 gCO2/kWh | 502 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 803 gCO2/kWh | 499 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 795 gCO2/kWh | 523 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 523 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 793 gCO2/kWh | 511 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 510 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 507 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 791 gCO2/kWh | 505 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 792 gCO2/kWh | 485 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 785 gCO2/kWh | 459 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 776 gCO2/kWh | 446 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 749 gCO2/kWh | 446 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 747 gCO2/kWh | 438 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 726 gCO2/kWh | 399 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 734 gCO2/kWh | 379 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 730 gCO2/kWh | 399 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 714 gCO2/kWh | 390 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 718 gCO2/kWh | 393 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 689 gCO2/kWh | 367 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 670 gCO2/kWh | 351 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 642 gCO2/kWh | 334 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 606 gCO2/kWh | 339 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 578 gCO2/kWh | 378 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 557 gCO2/kWh | 323 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 554 gCO2/kWh | 281 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 525 gCO2/kWh | 284 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Australia | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | n/a | n/a |
| 1986 | n/a | n/a |
| 1987 | n/a | n/a |
| 1988 | n/a | n/a |
| 1989 | n/a | n/a |
| 1990 | n/a | n/a |
| 1991 | n/a | n/a |
| 1992 | n/a | n/a |
| 1993 | n/a | n/a |
| 1994 | n/a | n/a |
| 1995 | n/a | n/a |
| 1996 | n/a | n/a |
| 1997 | n/a | n/a |
| 1998 | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | n/a | n/a |
| 2000 | 11.33 MWh | 5.49 MWh |
| 2001 | 11.58 MWh | 5.59 MWh |
| 2002 | 11.41 MWh | 5.71 MWh |
| 2003 | 11.40 MWh | 5.84 MWh |
| 2004 | 11.44 MWh | 5.83 MWh |
| 2005 | 11.37 MWh | 5.88 MWh |
| 2006 | 11.56 MWh | 5.97 MWh |
| 2007 | 11.61 MWh | 5.96 MWh |
| 2008 | 11.48 MWh | 5.90 MWh |
| 2009 | 11.47 MWh | 5.53 MWh |
| 2010 | 11.34 MWh | 5.66 MWh |
| 2011 | 11.40 MWh | 5.70 MWh |
| 2012 | 10.97 MWh | 5.59 MWh |
| 2013 | 10.74 MWh | 5.41 MWh |
| 2014 | 10.50 MWh | 5.28 MWh |
| 2015 | 10.61 MWh | 5.38 MWh |
| 2016 | 10.61 MWh | 5.34 MWh |
| 2017 | 10.47 MWh | 5.46 MWh |
| 2018 | 10.46 MWh | 5.47 MWh |
| 2019 | 10.44 MWh | 5.46 MWh |
| 2020 | 10.30 MWh | 5.16 MWh |
| 2021 | 10.30 MWh | 5.50 MWh |
| 2022 | 10.42 MWh | 5.42 MWh |
| 2023 | 10.33 MWh | 5.26 MWh |
| 2024 | 10.54 MWh | 5.37 MWh |
| 2025 | 10.63 MWh | 5.27 MWh |
Australia history · Italy history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.