Renewable Energy Shatters Records Again on Australia’s Main Grid

Renewable energy is steadily eroding the dominance of coal and gas on Australia’s main grid, setting a new record for instantaneous renewable share for the third time in a single week. According to GPE NemLog data, renewables hit an unprecedented 74.3% of total grid demand during a five-minute interval on Friday at 11:15 am, surpassing previous records set on Tuesday and Monday.

Rooftop solar continues to play a leading role in this renewable surge, contributing 44% of the grid’s demand during the record-breaking period. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) also confirmed that renewables reached 73.87% on a 30-minute basis on Tuesday, setting a new benchmark for sustained renewable penetration.

AEMO is actively preparing for a future where wind and solar could meet 100% of grid demand on an instantaneous basis. This preparation involves a comprehensive engineering roadmap to ensure that all necessary protocols and system services are in place. Wind and solar are already capable of meeting full demand, but network and economic limitations, particularly from coal generators bidding at negative prices, have constrained their potential.

In a significant development this week, AGL demonstrated that coal plants may not need to be "always on." For the first time, AGL successfully switched one of the Bayswater coal generator units on and off within six hours, a process known as "two-shifting." This breakthrough could mark a turning point for coal plants, traditionally assumed to operate continuously, and could allow even greater integration of wind and solar power.

Some states, like South Australia, have already demonstrated that they can generate well over 100% of their demand from renewables, thanks to transmission links and battery storage. This highlights the potential for other regions to follow suit as grid infrastructure and storage capabilities improve.

In another milestone, residual demand on the main grid fell to a new low of 5,313 MW in the last 24 hours, breaking a record that had stood for nearly a year. Queensland, a state currently undergoing an election that could shape its renewable future, also saw its instantaneous renewable share hit 75% for the first time on Thursday.

As Australia moves further into its renewable energy transition, technological innovations and grid flexibility are paving the way for record-breaking progress.

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With renewables continuously setting new benchmarks, Australia’s grid is moving toward a cleaner and more resilient future.