SA Solar Shines Through Heatwave Reducing Peak With More Power Than Former Port Augusta Coal
Over Thursday and Friday as South Australia sweltered, local solar owners shined reducing peak grid demand across both days. On Thursday, solar owners produced more power than the capacity of the now-closed Northern coal-fired power station in Port Augusta when grid demand would have peaked just after 3pm on Thursday without the state’s solar.
“Without solar, demand on the grid would have peaked just after 3pm on Thursday. Instead, rooftop solar provided more power than the now-closed Northern power station in Port Augusta, keeping the lights on with clean energy. On Friday, solar reduced the peak by 358.6MW far exceeding the capacity of the government’s new backup generators” Dan Spencer, South Australian Campaigner for Solar Citizens said.
“Everyday people generating their own clean power meant that peak demand was pushed back by more than 4 hours until after 7pm on Thursday and by nearly 3 hours on Friday.
Solar Citizens say the failure of Victorian coal plant Loy Yang B during the heatwave on Thursday highlights the need for South Australia to continue investing in renewable energy with storage.
“The failure of Victorian coal during the heatwave meant prices went up for South Australians. With a state election just around the corner we’re calling on all parties to increase South Australia’s renewable target to bring more local renewables with storage to SA,” Mr Spencer said.
“Along with raising South Australia’s renewables target, we’re calling on all South Australian politicians to do more to make cost-cutting rooftop solar accessible to all South Australians,” Mr Spencer said.
“More accessible solar means that more people will be able to take back control of their electricity bills while helping to safeguard the grid.”
Media contact: Dan Spencer 0423 865 632
Source: Dylan McConnell, Researcher at the University of Melbourne’s Climate and Energy College
