In a new milestone for renewable energy in Australia, solar energy in South Australia reached an all-time high, reaching 120.8% of local demand. This success was recorded in the first days of spring and surpasses the previous record of 116% set in October last year. The combined contribution of rooftop solar and large-scale installations was responsible for this record, with rooftop solar accounting for only 93.7% of the state’s needs.
During peak production, rooftop solar reached 1,332 MW of capacity, while utility-scale solar added another 374 MW. This allowed the state to export more than 400 MW of excess electricity to Victoria and continued to export for most of the day.
As for South Australia’s batteries, the four major batteries in operation were charged during the day and discharged during the evening peak, further highlighting their importance in managing renewable energy fluctuations.
This historic achievement comes just a week after wind and solar power on the main grid reached a new record of 67.23%. South Australia generated an average of over 70% wind and solar energy last year, making it the most advanced Australian state in renewable energy.
The increasing penetration of solar energy in South Australia is also reflected in the data, with utility-scale solar reaching a record 30.7% share as of Sunday afternoon. At the same time, coal recorded a low instantaneous production of 5,332 MW in the morning and a record low share of 24.3% of the New South Wales grid.
These records are further evidence of the growing role of renewable energy in Australia’s energy mix and continued progress towards a greener, more sustainable future.
Definitions:
– Rooftop solar energy: Solar panels installed on the roofs of homes or buildings that convert sunlight directly into electricity.
– Large-scale solar energy: Solar energy systems with significant capacity to generate electricity on a large scale.
Fuentes:
– GPE NEMLog2
– Renew the economy
