Australia’s Main Grid Sets New Solar Output Record

Australia’s main grid is wrapping up the summer season by achieving a series of new maximum output records for large-scale solar energy, both within the main grid and specifically in Queensland.

On Thursday, at 14:25 (grid time), a new maximum instantaneous solar record of 7,643.3 MW was established for the National Electricity Market, surpassing the previous record of 7,595.3 MW set just days earlier. This data comes from Geoff Eldridge of GPE NEMLog.

Record Growth in Solar Output

Comparing to a year ago, where the record stood at 6,668 MW, an increase of 975.2 MW (+14.6%) was noted. The previous record was achieved on February 3 at 15:10, marking significant progress in solar energy generation.

The progress of NEM-wide solar output records and Queensland’s solar output is illustrated in the data provided by GPE NEMLog.

The recent peak in NEM Solar output, driven by contributions from New South Wales, was surpassed by Queensland in the latest record-setting achievement.

Eldridge highlights the significant contributions from major new solar farms that have been commissioned since the previous peak a year ago. These include the Wellington North Solar Farm (NSW) with 330 MW, Walla Walla Solar Farm 2 (NSW) with 142 MW, Walla Walla Solar Farm 1 (NSW) with 95 MW, Girgarre Solar Farm (Vic) with 74.8 MW, Stubbo Solar Farm 1 (NSW) with 67 MW, and Stubbo Solar Farm 2 (NSW) with 66 MW.

Queensland’s Record-Breaking Achievements

Additionally, Queensland set two new records on Thursday. The large-scale solar output reached a peak of 2,960 MW at 14:30, while the combined wind and solar output hit a new high of 3,222.3 MW earlier in the day at 8:55. It is noted that wind output in Queensland tends to be stronger in the evening hours.

Geoff Eldridge, a National Electricity Market (NEM) and Energy Transition Observer at Global Power Energy, provided these insights and data on the remarkable achievements in solar energy production in Australia.