Renewable energy reached a report share of Australia’s most important electrical energy provide within the December 2024 quarter, with the contribution of coal-fired technology dipping beneath 50% for the primary time, the Australian Vitality Market Operator mentioned.
Renewable power sources accounted for 46% of the general provide combine within the nationwide power market (NEM), driving quarterly complete emissions and emissions depth to report low ranges.
Larger than common temperatures, together with a heatwave throughout massive elements of the nation in November, contributed to the best underlying demand in all mainland NEM areas since at the least 2016.
The utmost demand report for a December quarter was reached on 16 December with of 33,716 megawatts (MW), whereas the typical quarterly complete demand was 23,737 MW, additionally a quarter-four report.
Rooftop photo voltaic and grid-scale photo voltaic reached new output information, rising by 18% and 9%, respectively, AEMO mentioned.
“The rise in rooftop solar output, coupled with record low coal-generation availability, resulted in coal-fired generation contributing less than 50% of the NEM’s total generation for the first time,” the AEMO govt basic supervisor for reform supply, Violette Mouchaileh, mentioned.
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“Renewable energy supplied a record 46% of the market’s electricity, peaking at 75.6% for a period on 6 November, driving emissions to record low levels.”
Wholesale electrical energy costs averaged $88 a megawatt hour (MWh) – an 83% enhance on quarter 4 in 2023, however a 26% lower on the quarter three 2024 common of $119/MWh.
In line with AEMO’s report, the year-on-year worth leap was linked to a rise in coal outages – notably brown coal, increased in a single day demand and transmission constraints.
Black coal-fired turbines recorded all-time low availability throughout This autumn 2024, down 6.5%, whereas brown coal-fired output fell to its lowest degree for any quarter, down 304MW (-9.2%) from This autumn 2023.
AEMO mentioned these elements contributed to increased in a single day costs throughout the NEM and to “several high-priced events in NSW and QLD on high demand days”.
“The data confirms what we know – unreliable coal is having a negative impact on energy prices, more renewables in the system bring wholesale prices down, and new transmission infrastructure is critical to keeping prices lower,” local weather change and power minister Chris Bowen mentioned.
“We are building an energy grid so everyone, everywhere has access to the cheapest form of energy at any given time.”
