Department of Health

Renewable electricity in the health sector

Key messages

  • From 1 July 2025, the Department of Health offices and large-scale facilities will use 100% renewable electricity. This includes sites with high electricity use such as hospitals, larger non-acute health facilities and cemeteries.
  • The change supports Victoria's goal for all government operations to use 100% renewable electricity by 2025.
  • Using renewable electricity helps cut greenhouse gas emissions and the health sector's contribution to climate change.

Switching to renewable electricity

As part of the 2021 Whole of Victorian Government Emissions Reduction PledgeExternal Link , the Victorian Government is changing how it purchases energy. From 1 July 2025, all major government buildings are to purchase 100% renewable electricity.

The State Electricity Commission (SEC) is now retailing 100% renewable electricity to Victorian government sites.

Who is using 100% renewable electricity

Large Victorian Government sites that use 40 MWh or more of electricity per year are required to source 100% renewable electricity. This includes:

  • Victorian public hospitals
  • the Department of Health's head office
  • other sites supplied through the HealthShare Victoria (HSV) or State Purchasing electricity contracts.

Sites using under 40 MWh of electricity per year do not have to purchase 100% renewable electricity. These site can choose to buy this voluntarily (for example, through the purchase of GreenPower).

Sources of renewable electricity

Electricity will come from renewable energy projects, including wind and solar farms. Victoria's Renewable Energy (Jobs and Investment) Act 2017External Link supports new large-scale projects to help meet our energy targets.

Cutting emissions in the health sector

Electricity is one of the biggest sources of emissions in Victoria. Emission associated with electricity use made up 55% of the Victorian health sector's greenhouse gas emissions in 2023-24.

Switching to renewable electricity will greatly reduce the health system's carbon footprint and support Victoria's efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

Other actions to reduce emissions

The Department of Health is working with partners to progress climate action in the health sector. Emission reduction initiatives include:

More information

Read more about the use of renewable electricity in Victoria's public buildings:

Reviewed 30 July 2025

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Contact us

Climate Health Victoria Department of Health

chv@health.vic.gov.au
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