South Australia locks in funds to become first grid in world to reach 100% net wind and solar

South Australia has locked in federal funding to ensure it becomes the first non-hydro grid in the world to reach 100% net renewables.

The deal means that the federal government will underwrite a minimum 1 GW of new wind and solar and another 400 MW of storage – to ensure it meets its target of 100% net renewables by 2027.

SA already leads Australia – and the world – with a wind and solar share of around 70% over the last 12 months.

The new capacity, along with the new Project Energy Connect transmission link from NSW, will enable it to reach 100% net renewables based around wind and solar.

That does not mean it will be powered by wind and solar at all times. Rather, the amount of wind and solar generated and stored each year will be equivalent to what it consumes.

The state will export power at times and import at other times, and can fall back on existing peaking gas plants to fill in the gaps.

That milestone will be a landmark for the state, and for advocates of the renewable energy transition, particularly as conservatives continue to rail against renewables.

SA's 100% renewables target was originally committed by the state's Liberal government. The Labor government merely accelerated it from 2030 to 2027.

The announcement was made at Port Augusta, the site of a former coal fired power station that the federal Coalition wants to turn nuclear, but which has already become a hub for green energy and industry.

SA has not added a new wind or solar project to the grid for two years, but the biggest wind project in the state – the 412 MW Goyder South wind farm – is about to send its first power to the grid.

Several new battery projects are also under construction – at Blyth, Hallett, Clements Gap and Templers and another, Tailem Bend, still waiting to be commissioned.

These projects will propel the state towards 80% renewables over the coming year, while the additional capacity of 1,000 MW of wind and solar and 400 MW of battery will help it hit its 2027 target.

SA is also building the world’s first green hydrogen plant at Whyalla, which will be accompanied by a 250 MW electrolyser and storage facilities.

The state is fielding huge number of inquiries from industry keen to source zero emissions energy - more than 2 GW of load inquiries have been made.

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