Australia continues to make strides towards a future powered mainly by renewables. Both Tasmania and South Australia are routinely outperforming other states. Tasmania’s power output comes solely from renewable sources, with hydro, wind, and solar contributing 871 MW, 14 MW, and 93 MW respectively. In South Australia, only a minor fraction of the total power produced, 86 MW, comes from gas, while the majority emanates from wind (1096 MW), small solar (954 MW), large solar (372 MW), and 4 MW from battery storage.
South Australia’s Remarkable Renewable Success
With over 90% of its electricity needs covered by renewables in the past week, South Australia proves an exemplar of renewable energy utilization. This has led to energy prices dropping to a low AU$12 per MWh. The state has also efficiently handled peak evening demand with the aid of batteries. Despite some energy curtailment due to inadequate solar export infrastructure, improvements are underway, and more renewable projects are planned.
Progress in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland
Victoria’s reliance on brown coal has been halved and is on track to add 2.6 gigawatts of renewable energy storage capacity by 2030. Both Victoria and New South Wales are beginning to harness offshore wind power. Meanwhile, New South Wales and Queensland are producing 60% of their power from renewable sources.
Renewable Energy Expansion in Western Australia
Western Australia, although running on a separate grid, is also making headway in its renewable energy transition, drawing half of its power from renewables. Additionally, construction is underway for several large solar farms within the state.
The Role of Rooftop Solar in Australia’s Energy Transition
Australia is experiencing significant growth in rooftop solar deployment, with the first half of this year recording a 20% increase in installations. This growth is partially driven by recent hikes in electricity bills. Currently, Australia holds the highest penetration of rooftop solar globally and could potentially generate up to 50 GW by 2040. However, the Australian Electricity Market Operator (AEMO) has expressed concerns over potential oversupply issues and seeks consent to shut off rooftop solar when their generation exceeds grid demand.
Future Prospects: Large-scale Battery Projects and More Solar Rooftops
With various large-scale battery projects and solar farm installations in progress, Australia is on track to achieving its renewable energy goals. Companies like Equis are investing in multiple renewable energy and battery storage projects which, upon completion, will contribute significantly to the nation’s power grid. In addition, vast rooftop solar potential will continue to be tapped, thereby ensuring a greener and more sustainable energy future.
