Australia’s First Clean Energy Solutions Index: A New Compass
Australia’s energy transition has long been marked by political tension, community debate, and mixed signals to investors. The launch of the inaugural Clean Energy Solutions Index (1), however, offers something different – a data-driven view of what Australians really think about clean energy technologies, and how deep that support runs.
Developed by research agency 89 Degrees East with support from Boundless Earth, the Index measures public sentiment across 11 clean energy solutions – from household solar to green metals manufacturing. For the first time, leaders in government, industry, and investment have a national benchmark of “deep support,” going beyond surface polling to understand stability of public backing.
What the Index Is
The Clean Energy Solutions Index is designed to measure the type of support that can withstand political cycles, misinformation, and community pushback. Using four key metrics – personal support, belief it benefits the nation, perception of local community support, and willingness to advocate – each solution is given a single score out of 100. (2)
According to the authors, a score of 70 or higher signals the foundation for “social licence” – the level of support needed to drive adoption at scale. The inaugural results put the national average at 60/100, suggesting strong momentum by the public but highlighting that more work is needed.
Key Findings
The headline insight is clear in our view: familiarity breeds support.
Installing solar panels at home ranked highest at 81/100. Solar batteries also scored strongly at 72. These are solutions households see, touch, and directly benefit from – particularly through lower energy bills.
At the other end, electric vehicles registered the lowest score at 44. Concerns about cost, resale value, battery life, and driving range outweighed any environmental benefits. Similarly, converting homes to be gas-free scored just 48, with many Australians expressing a cultural preference for gas cooking and heating.
Infrastructure solutions such as solar farms (68) and renewable transmission lines (56) showed moderate support, but barriers included land use concerns and perceived government waste. Wind energy – both offshore (53) and onshore (57) – attracted majority personal support but lagged in perceived community backing.
In industry, the strongest support was for manufacturing renewable energy components in Australia (67), reflecting enthusiasm for job creation and reduced reliance on imports. Green metals (59) and gas-free industry conversion (51) scored lower, highlighting cost concerns and unfamiliarity.
Geographically, support was relatively consistent across states, with Western Australia (64) and Tasmania (63) leading, while Queensland (57) and NSW (58) trailed slightly.
The survey of over 3,100 Australians also uncovered a “perception gap”: while renewable energy already accounts for 46% of electricity generation, most respondents believed the figure to be 30% or less. Addressing this gap in public knowledge will be vital for maintaining momentum.
Why It Matters for Investors
For investors in the environmental sector, the Index offers several important signals.
First, it identifies where the social licence is strongest. Household solar and batteries aren’t just popular with consumers; they also enjoy broad national acceptance, reducing the risk of community opposition and making them attractive areas for investment. By contrast, projects in gas-free homes, gas-free industry, and EV infrastructure may face headwinds unless awareness and affordability issues are addressed.
Second, economic narratives matter. Australians consistently favoured solutions that deliver dual benefits – both environmental and economic. Manufacturing components locally or building green metals industries resonate not only for their climate impact but for their potential to create jobs and support the national economy. Investors looking for durable themes should take note: when projects promise both climate and commercial upside, they’re more likely to enjoy stable long-term support.
Third, cost remains a critical barrier. The Index shows that even when people agree a solution is good for the environment, concerns over upfront expense, consumer prices, or taxpayer burden can undermine support. Investors should expect continued policy interventions – subsidies, incentives, or financing support – to play a role in unlocking adoption, especially in household and infrastructure solutions.
Finally, the Index highlights the power of perception and noise. Support is stronger where positive commentary outweighs negative. Electric vehicles, for example, suffer from noisy scepticism that dampens their overall score. For investors, this suggests that stakeholder engagement and public communication strategies are not secondary to the project – they’re central to success.
How Investors Can Use the Index
The Clean Energy Solutions Index is designed as a public resource, to be updated annually with an interactive dashboard for deeper analysis. Investors can leverage it in several ways:
Identify low-risk opportunities: Focus on sectors with established support (solar, batteries, solar farms, renewable component manufacturing). These areas are less likely to face sudden regulatory or community pushback.
Spot emerging themes: Use lower-scoring areas as signals of where future opportunity lies – if policymakers can close cost gaps and improve communication, solutions like EVs or green metals could deliver significant upside.
Benchmark sentiment shifts: Track changes year-on-year to understand how evolving public attitudes might affect the risk profile of projects and portfolios.
Inform engagement strategies: Tailor messaging around dual benefits – climate plus economic gains – to align with what Australians most value.
The Bottom Line
The inaugural Clean Energy Solutions Index is more than just a poll; it is a barometer of Australia’s clean energy future. The overall score of 60 shows there is a solid foundation of public backing, particularly around solar, but it also underlines the need to bridge cost barriers, improve communication, and expand familiarity with newer technologies.
For investors, the message is clear: the transition is not just about technology and capital, it’s about social licence. The Index provides a practical tool to assess where that licence is strongest – and where more work is needed. By using this data to guide investment decisions, the environmental sector can not only manage risk but also harness the deep support Australians already feel for a clean, affordable, and prosperous energy future.
References
89 Degrees East & Boundless Earth. “Clean Energy Solutions Index 2025 Report.” 25 August 2025. https://cleanenergysolutionsindex.com.au/
Eco Voice. “Clean Energy Solutions Index Launch: a unique tool for a pivotal moment in Australia”. 25 August 2025. https://econews.com.au/67655/clean-energy-solutions-index-launch-a-unique-tool-for-a-pivotal-moment-in-australia/
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