According to latest figures released by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), South Australia is set to derive half of its power from renewable sources within the next decade.
In the state where already one in five houses have rooftop solar panels, the AEMO predicts that new sources of wind and solar will account for half of the state’s energy within this decade. Wind energy in the state currently supplies 27 per cent of the state’s power, and recently during wild weather produced almost half of the state’s electricity. Rooftop solar PV accounts for 3.7 per cent of the state’s electricity generation. Recently Conservation council chief executive Tim Kelly indicated the state should embrace renewables as a proven power source, and based on recent data South Australia should be more ambitious with its renewable energy target of 33 per cent by 2020.
In the AEMO report, 31 per cent of the state’s energy consumption was met by wind and solar in 2012-2013, made up of more than 1,250MW of large scale wind farms, and 400MW of rooftop solar PV. Under the AEMO growth scenario, decreased costs and low payback periods will lead to the uptake of rooftop solar PV to treble, rising to 1205MW by 2022. Similarly, with the addition of a few wind farms, the state’s renewable energy sources would be close to 50 per cent. The AEMO predicts that the electricity market will actually contract rather than grow in the next decade, driven by rising electricity prices and solar pv.
This is the last month for South Australian’s to secure the full 25 cent feed in tariff until September 2016. Compare solar quotes and use our solar savings calculator to make an informed decision on getting solar.
