In Australia’s National Electricity Market, on Saturday, September 22, solar and wind energy met 80.4% of electricity demand. For the grid covering the eastern states, South Australia and the Capital Territory, this recorded figure shows that rooftop solar panels alone met more than half of the demand for around 30 minutes during lunchtime.
A portion of the excess energy was captured in pumped hydroelectric storage and batteries. A portion was curtailed due to the system’s safety rules, network constraints, and low wholesale prices caused by excess supply at the same time. At the end of the same week, coal production in Queensland reached a record low.

