Renewables overtake coal for first time on monthly basis in Australia’s main grid

Renewables – a combination of solar PV, wind, hydro and biomass – overtook coal on a monthly basis for the first time in September, according to a leading energy analyst.

David Dixon, from Rystag Energy, says renewables produced 8.48 terrawatt hours in September, the second highest ever, to claim a record share of generation of 48.8 per cent. That eclipsed coal for the first time, which accounted for 47.6 per cent over the month.

Dixon says a couple of other records fell during the month, including in Victoria which produced the lowest amount of coal power (1.98 TWh) since the creation of the National Electricity Market in 1998, and probably longer.

Tasmania produced a record amount of wind (256 GWh), with the Cattle Hill wind farm (pictured above) delivering a capacity factor over the month of 67.9 per cent – higher than many coal generators.

Other Tasmania wind farms also performed well. Indeed, the worst performing wind facility in the state – Woolworth – delivered a capacity factor of 59 per cent.

Across the country, Australian utility PV and wind assets generated 5,046 GWh, up 12 per cent from 4,518 GWh in September 2024.

Dixon says the best performing assets for the month were spread across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, with the Emerald and Moura solar farms in Queensland topping the list, following by the country’s very first solar facility at Greenough River in Western Australia.

Victoria generated the most renewables, with a total of 1,653 GWh, comprising 1,482 GWh from wind (with the help of the newly commissioned first stage of the Golden Plains wind farm) and 171 GWh from utility PV.