Wind and solar set new production records as they reshape Australia’s grid Giles Parkinson 23 July 2021 8 Share Tweet 0Share Wind and solar have set new production records in Australia’s main grid, for average generation over a quarter, record output in a single interval, and a record renewable energy share of 57 per cent in one interval in April. The new benchmarks were reported by the Australian Energy Market Operator in its latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics report, which chronicles key milestones achieved in the National Electricity Market, and also in the separate WA grid. The average output of variable energy sources wind and solar reached a record 7,368MW in the second quarter, a rise of 457MW over the same quarter a year earlier thanks to the addition of new projects. (See graph below).
Brown coal output fell significantly due to the flooding of the Yallourn mine and its impact on the Yallourn coal generator, which produced its lowest quarterly amount since the start of the NEM more than two decades ago. Black coal and gas generation also fell over the quarter, but the fascinating part is the following graph, showing how the grid is being reshaped by the increase in wind and solar. The combination of rooftop and large scale solar […]