There were record levels of renewable energy across Australia in the last three months of 2022.
The latest quarterly report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) shows records were broken for both wind and solar generation, while coal generation hit all-time lows.
AEMO official Violette Mouchaileh called it “a glimpse of the future”.
The records
In the National Electricity Market (NEM), which supplies power to the east coast and SA, wind generation hit an all-time high. Solar generation also spiked and coal generation hit an all-time low.
As a result, renewables accounted for a record share of power needs for the quarter. A new record was also set for most renewable generation in a single day – 68.7% on 28 October.
Records were also broken in the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM), which supplies power to parts of WA.
The WEM also recorded its lowest-ever coal generation. Renewables made up a record 42.7% of power for the quarter, and the single-day renewables record was broken several times, the highest being 84.3% on 12 December.
Batteries
Violette Mouchaileh, AEMO’s Executive General Manager of Reform Delivery, noted the enhanced role of renewables was supported by new batteries, especially in South Australia.
On 19 November, a transmission failure in SA was covered by stored renewable power, which accounted for an “extraordinary” 91.5% of SA’s power that day, according to Mouchaileh, who said batteries would be “key to Australia realising its renewable potential”.
