South Australia Reaches 30% Renewable Energy

MONDAY 07 OCTOBER, 2013

by Energy Matters


Electricity demand and emissions across the Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) have continued to fall throughout the year according to the pitt&sherry Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX).
   
Current to September 2013, CEDEX indicates electricity demand overall was down by nearly 7% from its maximum in the year to December 2008. Demand fell in every NEM state except Tasmania; where it increased by 0.3%.
   
The fall in demand coupled with wind, hydro and gas generation displacing coal fired power generation saw emissions down by 29 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent, a nearly 16% reduction over the same period.
   
South Australia remains the poster child for non-hydro renewables, with a steady growth in wind generation gradually displacing coal fired generation. In the year to September 2013, coal made up just 16% of power generation, gas 45%, wind 27% and net interconnector imports 12%.
 
The contribution of rooftop solar PV is not included in CEDEX, but more than 19 percent of households in South Australia have gone solar. According to a recent Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) report; rooftop solar power generation is expected to reach  1,119 gigawatt-hours by 2022–23, which is expected to be equivalent to 8.9% of South Australia’s annual energy use.
 
Commenting on the report on RenewEconomy; pitt&sherry principal consultant Hugh Sherry said if solar PV was factored into South Australia's results, the shares would be: coal 15%, gas 43%, wind 26%, interconnector 12% and PV 4%; putting renewables at 30% overall.
 
South Australia has set a renewable energy production target of 33% by 2020 - and given the pace of solar power uptake and wind farm development; it should reach that goal well ahead of time.
   
CEDEX provides an early indication of key greenhouse gas emission trends in Australia. The full report is available here.