Renewables

Graph of the Day: How wind energy trumped Liddell in September

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This graph caught our eye. Posted on Twitter on Monday by Tristan Edis, from Green Energy Markets, it shows the big month that wind energy enjoyed in September across the National Electricity Market.

According to Edis, the wind farms in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and NSW achieved a new output record in September, with an average capacity factor of 49.5 per cent for month.

And how does that compare with the Liddell coal generator, that the Coalition is trying to force AGL Energy to keep open in the name of “reliability and cost”.

Well, Liddell had a capacity factor of just 38.2 per cent in the month. And even through 2016/17, it barely operated at more than 50 per cent.

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Giles Parkinson

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor-in-chief of Renew Economy, and founder and editor of its EV-focused sister site The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for more than 40 years and is a former deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

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