The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has released its 2025 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO), a 100-page report that provides technical and market data to inform the planning and decision-making of market participants, investors, and governments. The ESOO draws on industry surveys, transmission information, and analysis of conditions that could impact the supply of electricity, while also forecasting future demand, including consumer behaviour.
What does the 2025 ESOO say?
This year’s report points to a more positive reliability outlook than previous years. The outlook is, however, dependent on major renewable and storage projects being delivered in full and on schedule.
Two different development scenarios are assessed:
- Government Schemes and Actionable Developments, including large-scale renewable investments supported by federal and state schemes as well as planned transmission upgrades.
- Committed and Anticipated Developments, which covers only those projects that are already well advanced or approaching financial close.
Reliability outcomes over the coming decade are closely tied to the timely delivery of generation, storage and transmission projects. Federal and state initiatives are funding many of these developments, but ensuring they are completed in full and aligned with generator retirements will be essential to meeting reliability standards across most regions.
Why does this matter?
For clean energy developers, investors and policymakers, the ESOO sets out both challenges and opportunities. Projects that can deliver reliable renewable supply quickly will be critical to keeping the lights on and meeting Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
Where do First Nations communities fit in?
The release of the ESOO coincides with the commencement of the $70 million First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, a three-year program that began on 1 July 2025. This initiative supports Indigenous-led renewable projects, feasibility studies, and partnerships that ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities participate in and benefit from the clean energy transition.
You can read the full ESOO here: AEMO 2025 Electricity Statement of Opportunities