Rainforest Reserves Australia (RRA) has released a detailed and interactive Australian Renewable Energy map, created by conservationist Steven Nowakowski in collaboration with RRA, which it says “reveals the true scale of industrial renewable energy projects across the nation”. It has elicited unsurprisingly contrasting responses from Labor and The Nationals.

Leader of The Nationals, David Littleproud, put out a media release the same day the map was released (6 October), “The need for nuclear proven by alarming new renewables mapping data”. This release is published in full below.

Australian Rural & Regional News sought a response from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon. Chris Bowen, and received a comparatively brief response, to be attributed to a government spokesperson, set out in full below. Minister Bowen’s office also provided a lengthy, unattributable background, not published here. When questioned further about the accuracy of the RRA mapping, Minister Bowen’s office pointed out that it included a number of projects that are not proceeding. These are listed below.

It should be noted that the RRA does include a “disclaimer” with the map that states “The Australian Renewable Energy Map offers a concise, regularly updated map of industrial renewable energy projects nationwide. While most listings are active or planned, some projects have been cancelled or remain uncertain; we keep them visible so the public stay informed.” Even so, it appears the projects mentioned by Minister Bowen’s office that, at this stage have been cancelled, are not listed as cancelled on the map.

The need for nuclear proven by alarming new renewables mapping data: Littleproud

The Hon. David Littleproud, Leader of The Nationals, Media Release, 6 October 2025

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said today’s ground-breaking comprehensive ‘truth data’ of Labor’s reckless renewables rollout proves the need for nuclear in Australia.

Mr Littleproud said the Rainforest Reserves Australia and Steven Nowakowski analysis, which can be found at  https://www.rainforestreserves.org.au/renewablestruthmap, shows the shocking impact Labor’s all-renewables plan will cause on agriculture land, pristine natural landscapes and regional communities.

The mapping outlines the scale and size of every site in Australia and the footprint it will leave, with clickable, real-time data.

It shows the vast amount of land being taken up by Labor’s 1126 projects, requiring 44,895.5 kilometres of new haulage roads for more than 300 wind projects, along with an additional 443,000 hectares of prime land for 545 new solar projects.

The total number of solar panels proposed totals a staggering 584 million.

“This mapping vindicates The Nationals’ calls for nuclear to remain a key policy for the Coalition,” Mr Littleproud said.

“We need to lift the nuclear moratorium for a balanced and technology neutral energy mix if we want to save what’s left of our agriculture land and our forests from Labor’s all-renewables approach.

“Australians need to understand, this mapping shows Labor is destroying the very thing we are trying to protect – the environment.

“Regional Australians are being forced to bear the burden of Labor’s renewables rollout, but after the all the agriculture land is ripped up, after all the forests are destroyed, Labor’s plan still won’t generate the energy Australia needs – all it will do is leave a trail of destruction that our native flora and fauna will never recover from.”

Environmentalist Steven Nowakowski said the mapping, released today, is the most comprehensive to date.

“This is a trillion-dollar industry yet no one has done this mapping before,” Mr Nowakowski said.

“This was a three-year project, the irony being it was undertaken by volunteers.

“Australians can now see the impact for themselves. Every project is online, and clickable, showing the size of the wind farm or the solar farm. It has been a huge piece of work that every Australian needs to know about.”

Rainforest Reserves mapping snapshot

Key data

• 205 BESS projects
• 13 Hydrogen
• 13 Hydro Projects (expansion of existing or new)
• 24 Pumped Hydros
• 545 Solar
• 296 Onshore Wind (101 commissioned & operational)
• 28 Offshore Wind (proposed)
• 2 Tidal

Total 1,126 projects

Total of 323 wind farms
(commissioned and proposed)

Some keys stats in mapping:

• Total length of proposed new haulage roads for wind – 44,895.5km
• Total surface area for solar  – Existing 27,176ha; Proposed 443,755 ha
• Total undersea cabling length for offshore wind – Proposed 7,980.9km
• Total number of wind towers – Existing 4,552
• Total number of wind towers (including hydrogen) – Proposed 25,869 (5,495 for hydrogen) & offshore wind
• Total number of solar panels (utility and rooftop) – Existing 82,025,000
• Total number of solar panels (utility and rooftop) – Proposed 584,000,000

Total cost –  $1.328 trillion
(excluding transmission, roof top solar, home BESS & 15GW of new gas projects)

Response from the office of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy,
the Hon. Chris Bowen, attributable to a government spokesperson

Government spokesperson, Office of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen, response to Australian Rural & Regional News, 8 October 2025.

“It’s a shame that a group claiming to be pro-environment would spread so much misinformation on it. 

“The energy market operator details connection interest on their website publicly and transparently.

“This group should be transparent about their connection with an anti-renewable lobby and work with the coalition on nuclear.

“Having strong, modern, fit-for-purpose environmental laws in place will protect Australia’s incredible natural environment, while also supporting speeding up assessments and approvals for national priorities like more homes, jobs, renewable energy, critical minerals and the economic prosperity Australia needs in the future.”

Projects noted by Minister Bowen’s office that are on the RRA map that are not proceeding:

• Moonlight Range (QLD): Cancelled by QLD Government (26 May 2025)
• Wooroora Station Wind Farm (formerly Chalumbin) (QLD) – withdrawn by Ark Energy (19 April 2024)
• Yass Solar Farm (NSW): Withdrawn by proponent (May 2025)
• Samphire Offshore Wind Farm (WA) – Project withdrawn (15 May 2025)
• Bass Coast North and South offshore wind farms (Vic) Project not proceeding as outside of Gippsland offshore zone