This morning at 5:55 AM, as I cycled out of Port Augusta past the wind farms, there was stillness in the air. That’s why I left so early. I wanted to avoid forecast cross winds. The turbines stood silent, and the sun had yet to rise. Yet, across the state, toasters, kettles and coffee machines were firing up in hundreds of thousands of South Australian homes without a hitch. The secret to this seamless energy supply? The powerful combination of renewable energy and battery storage, a model that has turned South Australia into a global clean energy leader.
Wind and Solar: Powering South Australia
As I cycled south along the Spencer Gulf towards the Yorke Peninsula and Adelaide, I saw first hand how wind and solar are putting South Australia at the forefront of Australia’s renewable energy transformation. Since the early 2000s, South Australia has built over 2,000 wind turbines at over 20 wind farms. On many days, wind provides more than half of South Australia’s electricity needs. It was doing that today, as it also powered me on my journey.
Of course, solar energy has also played a critical role. South Australia boasts the highest per capita rooftop solar installation in Australia, with over 370,000 homes - approximately one in three households - having solar panels on their roofs. Widespread adoption of solar has been driven by strong policy incentives and the community’s commitment to sustainability.
Together, wind and solar generate over 70% of South Australia’s electricity. By 2 PM today, renewables were producing 131% of the state’s demand, with the excess energy exported to the national grid, benefiting other states like Victoria and New South Wales.
Batteries: The Backbone of Renewable Reliability
South Australia’s renewable energy success wouldn’t be possible without battery storage. Large-scale batteries like the Hornsdale Power Reserve have become a backbone of the state’s energy system, ensuring power is available even when the wind isn’t blowing and sun isn’t shining.
Batteries store surplus energy generated during the day, releasing it when demand is high or when renewable generation is low. This capability was crucial this morning when, despite the calm conditions, South Australia’s grid remained stable and responsive.
A Cautionary Tale: The Nuclear Proposal
Despite South Australia’s overwhelming renewable energy success, there are risks on the horizon. Peter Dutton’s proposal for a nuclear power plant in Port Augusta is particularly concerning. It raises significant risks for market stability and continued growth of renewable energy and jobs.
Nuclear power is expensive and slow to develop. Construction timeframes take decades, during which time renewable technologies and battery storage will continue to advance, making nuclear even more obsolete. Furthermore, introducing nuclear energy into the grid would also undermine investments made by households and communities in roof top solar systems, as the grid is forced to accommodate outdated nuclear technology that can’t be switched on and off easily like renewables.
But perhaps an even bigger problem is the market uncertainty created by Dutton’s proposal which is already confusing markets and stifling investment in renewables and risking jobs. Energy markets thrive on certainty, and suggestions that Australia might pivot to nuclear are deterring investments needed to continue expanding renewables. But maybe that’s what Peter Dutton really wants.
Given the abundance of renewables, especially in South Australia, Peter Dutton’s nuclear proposal seems more like a political ploy than a genuine energy strategy. The likelihood of his plan coming to fruition is slim, he’ll be 80 years old before it’s complete. And in the meantime, his nuclear plan is creating unnecessary confusion and slowing momentum in Australia’s clean energy transition.
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