South Australia Targets Meeting 100% Energy Demand By Renewables By 2027
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The South Australia state government has fast tracked its target of “net 100 percent” renewables to 2027 instead of 2030, as a result of state’s new wind and solar developments and its ambitious hydrogen plans. In the past 12 months, South Australia already leads the world with more than 71% of its annual energy demand being met by wind and solar. Some excess energy produced by wind and solar will be exported when not needed in South Australia, and electricity imported from other states at other times. Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “We must not rest on our laurels and we cannot afford complacency. The time is right to recalibrate and set an even more ambitious target.” while visiting the top of a wind turbine at the Lincoln Gap wind farm in South Australia.
South Australia has taken significant steps toward achieving its goal of being powered entirely by renewable energy by 2027. This ambitious target involves generating electricity exclusively from renewable sources, and recent developments suggest the state is well on track to reach this milestone. Notably, South Australia has already experienced periods during which 100% of its electricity demand was met by renewable sources, including a noteworthy stretch of over 10 consecutive days where wind and solar power alone covered the state’s energy requirements.
A range of renewable energy projects contributes to this success, including significant investments in wind and solar energy. For example, various large-scale solar farms and wind projects are either operational or in development, and the state benefits from advancements in energy storage technologies and interconnections with other regions, which enhance grid stability and support the consistent supply of renewable energy.
This focus on renewable energy aligns with broader environmental goals and reflects a global trend towards sustainable and clean energy sources. South Australia’s progress is observed closely worldwide as it demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of transitioning to a fully renewable energy grid.
Descriptions of the video below, in italics, below:
Welcome to South Australia, a place where the winds of change are quite literal and the sun doesn’t just warm our homes but also powers them. I recorded this video in beautiful Adelaide when I visited recently, because South Australia is leading the world in several key aspects of the energy transition. South Australia has gone from a coal powered electricity grid with virtually no renewables in 2008 to 70% renewables with zero coal power plants today, a mere 15 years later. And, they’ve done it the hard way, with none of the “easy” clean energy sources (hydro, geothermal, nuclear). They’ve done it with variable renewables wind and solar. If you look at any of the large net zero scenarios you will see that the bulk of the future world’s electricity generation is expected to come from wind and solar. It is simply not possible to expand hydro everywhere so that each country can follow Iceland or Norway’s lead. Geothermal, biomass and nuclear each have their own issues with location, scalability and cost standing in their way. So the challenges that South Australia is overcoming as it pushes towards 100% renewable electricity are really blazing a trail that other countries are going to end up following. So, what does it mean to operate an energy grid dominated by variable renewables and with minimal connections to other grids? What are the challenges and the innovations emerging from such a unique energy ecosystem? Today, we will navigate through these nuances, unravel the intricacies of South Australia’s energy transition, and explore how this region is setting precedents and what it implies for the global energy narrative. Let’s take a look in depth, starting with how South Australia has gotten to where it is today, in the video published on Oct 17, 2023, by Engineering with Rosie, as “Can You Run a Grid on 100% Wind+ Solar? South Australia Shows Us How“, below:
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Abundant sunshine, wind and various critical resources give Australia a distinct advantage when it comes to the green energy transition. So can it lead the charge and become a clean energy superpower?! Australian correspondent Rosie, who you may recognise from her own channel ( 
/ engineeringwithrosie ) , looks at how the country could be charting its path to 100% renewables from wind, solar, storage and interconnectors as well as creating a hotbed of minerals and resources needed for electric vehicles. Enjoy! In the video published on Feb 27, 2023, by Fully Charged Show, as “Why Australia Will Be The World’s New Energy Superpower“, below:
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Rooftop solar already surpasses the energy generated by coal in Australia, and a study by Green Energy Markets has found in the next decade, it will surpass the combined capacity of coal, gas and hydroelectricity, in the video published on Feb 21, 2024, by ABC News (Australia), as “Rooftop solar will provide all of Australia’s energy needs in next decades|ABC News“, below:
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The Prime Minister and two veteran economists have made impassioned calls for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower. 7.30’s chief political correspondent Laura Tingle reports, in the video published on Feb 21, 2024, by ABC News In-depth, as “Calls for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower|7.30“, below:
Descriptions of the video below, in italics, below:
In Australia, more than a third of all homes have solar panels installed on their roof. Sometime in the next year, rooftop solar is expected to beat out coal to become the country’s largest source of electricity. No country has been more successful at encouraging rooftop solar adoption than Australia. There are many differences between America and Australia’s energy policy and markets. But if you want to understand why Australia has installed so much more rooftop solar than America, there’s only one difference that truly matters. That difference is cost, in the video published on July 10, 2023, by Distilled, as “Why Solar Is Cheaper in Australia Than America“, below:
Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com
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