Solar and wind deliver November generation high, closing out a record spring
Large-scale solar and wind farms generated a total of 4,107 GWh in November, delivering a 7% increase on the same time last year and taking the contribution from renewables to a record high.
NSW was once again the biggest single contributor to the month’s total, generating 682 GWh from utility-scale solar and 443 GWh from wind – a total of 1,125 GWh.
NSW also claimed the top-performing big solar generation asset for the month, the Griffith solar farm at a capacity factor (CF) of 35.4%.
Other big solar performers in November include Rugby Run in Queensland (34.2% CF) and the Clare solar farm, also in Queensland (33.9% CF).
The top-performing wind assets were mostly located in WA and QLD, with the Warradarge wind farm in WA leading the charts (48.5% CF), followed by the Dulacca wind farm in Queensland (43.7% CF).
November closes out what was a record-setting spring season for renewable energy in Australia, including a new high for the total share of renewables of more than 47% in October.
South Australia delivered a wind and solar share equivalent to 85.2% of state demand.
In the first week of November, another record fell when the market penetration of renewables hit a new high of 75.9% – significantly above the first spring record of 73% in September.
The share of wind and solar alone – variable renewables – hit a new peak of 74.6%, a leap from 71.7% in early October.