More than 40% of electricity used in Australia’s main power grid at start of year was renewable | Energy

Renewable energy generation increased dramatically in the main power network in Australia during the past year, producing 43 % of the electricity used in the five eastern states and honor between January and March.

The increase-from 39 % last year-came as a generation of black and brown power plants decreased to its lowest level in the first quarter, partly due to the fact that the aging plants are not available due to the power outages. Gas -powered electricity generation had also decreased.

Australian energy The market operator said that the shift from fossil fuels to the sources of zero emissions led to a 5.1 % decrease in greenhouse gas emissions on the eastern coast.

Electricity increased by 16 % of the solar panels on the surface, 18 % of the wind winds and 10 % of large solar farms. The output from the battery storage increased by 86 %, as many large batteries were connected to the network.

The total demand for electricity has reached a new record for a quarter, mainly due to people in Victoria and South Australia using more air conditioners. But the demand for electricity from large generators and farms decreased slightly as solar energy continued on the surface in playing a larger role. More than 4 million homes throughout the country have solar systems.

Data It indicates that the recent temporary suspension in the expansion of renewable energy on a large scale may end, and that is. Long -term decrease parked in climate pollution From the electricity sector has resumed. Experts said that growth will need to accelerate the country’s goal towards the Abanian government, which is 82 % of the electricity coming from renewable energy sources by 2030.

The average total electricity prices decreased by 6 % from the last quarter of last year, but remains 9 % higher than the first quarter of 2024. The increase was mainly driven by a significant jump in wholesale prices in Tasmania, as the cost of water generation increased.

The average price varies throughout the eastern states, but it has generally decreased by 2.5 %. A high cost of coal and water energy is often compensated by increasing the use of solar energy and cheap wind.

Stephanie Bashir, CEO of NEXA Consulting Company, said that the renewed generation and batteries had “a positive impact on the system dynamics, wholesale prices and reducing emissions.”

She said: “This is good for the security of power, reliability and the ability to bear costs.” “What we need now from the Albanian government led by the majority is the ambition to accelerate this momentum.

“The transport lines remain the missing link in the transition – we must cancel the prohibition of progress. Australia’s regional issues … We need to make sure that we support our areas to reap benefits and bring them with us on the trip. Do that and we can keep the lights while reaching the final goal of becoming a superior power of renewable energy.”

Greg Born of the Climate Council said that the data showed that “energy use is increasing and that renewable energy sources meet the challenge.”

He said: “Renewable energy sources will continue to break the records, as wholesale energy in Australia becomes more clean, affordable and more reliable.”

Construction

In 2022, the Dairy Government won the assumption that solar and wind developers will continue to build quickly as long as the authorities “repeat the nation” through an obligation of $ 20 billion to build transport and communications lines between the states required to harness clean energy.

By November 2023, she admitted that this was not the case with an investment in the main developments that dried up, and Chris Bowen, Minister of Climate and Energy Change, announced Great expansion of the taxpayer program – It is known as the capacity investment plan – to achieve the goal of the renewed government by 82 %.

He said that the Labor Party will have to 23 GB of new solar energy, winds and 9GW of the new storage between 2024 and 2027. Forex fuel energy was not qualified.

Government commitment is to ensure the minimum developer revenue for the electricity they generate. Tax drivers will pay the difference if the commercial return decreases to less than this rate. Auctions are held for subscription contracts every six months.

The capacity investment system was not initially devoted to legislation, but it became a law in February after a request from the Greens in exchange for a related invoice.

Johanna Bouer, an analyst at the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, said that the high renewal of renewable energy, especially when the sun was high in the middle of the day, means wholesale electricity prices zero or negative 18 % of time.

She said that large -scale batteries now got 88 % of their revenues by buying and storing solar energy and cheap winds during the day and selling them when the prices were higher in the evening. The remaining 12 % of the revenues were obtained By providing the necessary frequency to achieve stability in the network.