CANBERRA: South Australia’s energy market continues to provide fascinating viewing for energy nerds, large energy consumers and vested interests since the exit of the last coal-fired generator just over a fortnight ago. On Sunday, wind energy exceeded local demand for more than 10 hours, from 1.40am to just before midday (11.55am), with a peak of 120 per cent of demand at 4.30am. (See graph below, courtesy of Melbourne Energy Institute).
Of course, this does not suggest that wind energy is about to provide 100 per cent of the state’s energy needs all the time, or even average out over the whole year. That level currently stands at around 40 per cent, but it does highlight the possibilities, particularly with more wind energy projects in the pipeline that could more than double the current capacity, and push for the need for more inter-connectors to other states. And the wind supply – while predictable – is variable.
As this graph below illustrates, while South Australia has enjoyed reasonably strong wind conditions over the past two weeks, its 1,500MW of wind capacity contributed little on Friday, resulting in more than 1,000MW of gas-fired generation for a time, and for prices to shoot skywards.
