Western Australia’s instantaneous renewable energy share reached a new peak of 81 percent on Nov. 12, at about 12.30 local time. This is considered outstanding for the world’s largest isolated system.
The new record, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), significantly surpassed the previous standard of 79% established in September 2021.
Rooftop solar installations on houses and businesses within the state’s primary grid, known as the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), accounted for 61% of the renewable energy, according to the AEMO.
“Renewables supplied nearly 40% of total electricity generated in WA’s WEM last week, setting a new instantaneous renewables record of 81% on Saturday, up 1.3% from the previous record.”
“At the time, rooftop PV was estimated to contribute over 61% of underlying demand.”
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Australian Energy Market Operator
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) operates Australia’s largest gas and electricity markets and power systems.
AEMO carries out a variety of operational, development, and planning tasks related to the gas and electricity markets. It oversees the wholesale electricity market in Western Australia (WEM), the Victorian gas transmission network, and the National Electricity Market (NEM). It is responsible for setting up a Short Term Trading Market (STTM) for gas and national transmission planning for electricity.
Rooftop solar: Western Australia’s rising need
Western Australia is undergoing an energy shift, with more of the state’s energy coming from rooftop solar and other decentralised electricity generation sources. The state’s current level of renewable energy is beyond the grid’s capacity.
The SWIS, the state’s primary grid serving the southwestern portion of WA, is currently linked to more than 400,000 homes and businesses, or around 36% of consumers. Rooftop solar now generates more electricity than all other sources combined in the state, significantly exceeding the 854 MW coal-fired Muja Power Station owned by the state.
Given that WA receives more sunshine than any other state or territory in the nation, the broad use of solar energy makes it logical. Perth has 8.8 hours of sun per day, more than Darwin (8.5 hours), Brisbane (8.2 hours), and Adelaide combined, according to Bureau of Meteorology data (7.7 hours).
A powerhouse in hydrogen energy
The State Government’s Industrial Lands Panel approved the latest phase for the land allocation in developing the greenfield or undeveloped site known as the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) into a globally competitive, multi-product renewable hydrogen industrial zone.
The Industrial Lands Panel has chosen to award land to six bids from companies interested in developing hydrogen-related projects at Oakajee SIA, subject to crucial requirements agreements with Development WA, the State’s principal land development agency.
The Oakajee SIA’s mission is to become a sustainable, globally competitive downstream processing industrial hub for significant domestic and international markets. It is wholly owned and operated by the Western Australian Government.
