Sunshine state sets a new solar generation record, in late autumn

Queensland, which likes to call itself the Sunshine State, has achieved a new solar generation record which is notable for the fact that it occurred in late autumn.

According to data analysts GPE NemLog 2, large scale solar early Monday reached a record share of 30.2 per cent of the generation in the state which remains the most heavily coal dependent – in percentage terms – in the country.

GPE’s Geoff Eldridge says such records usual finish in mid-April by the latest, and don’t recommence until September, when solar conditions are good and demand is relatively low due to mild conditions.

However, Eldridge notes that the new record reflects the contributions made by the new Blue Grass, Moura, and Woolooga solar farms, and of course the country’s biggest solar project to date, the 400MW Western Downs facility which is nearly fully commissioned.

Most of these projects were not or not significantly generating this time last year.

That explains the big jump in the share of large scale solar. The 30.2 per cent share reached at 9.10 am on Monday beat the previous record of 21.2 per cent set on Friday, April 15 last year at 1.55pm.

It also means that Queensland’s record share of large scale solar in its local grid is now higher than those of South Australia and NSW.

GPE’s Eldridge said it is also worth noting that Victoria has not had a new solar share record since October 2021. This likely reflects the lack of many new large scale solar farms in that state since that time.