Australia: Large-scale solar PV grows 20-fold in six years
Aug 30, 2024
The Australian government’s latest Energy Update 2024 report has revealed that large-scale solar PV power generation has grown more than 20-fold in the last six years. The report, published by the government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on Wednesday (28 August), covers data for 2022-23. It states that solar electricity generation grew 21% year-on-year in 2022-23 and is 11 times higher than a decade ago. It also indicates that renewable electricity generation increased by 11% year-on-year, accounting for 34% (93TWh) of Australia’s electricity generation. In the national electricity market (NEM), this figure increases to 37% in the electricity mix. The report notes that this rise has been aided by the “rapid expansion of solar PV and wind electricity production”. It signals that cumulative electricity generation also increased by 1% year-on-year during the same period. Large-scale solar grew significantly in South Australia in 2022-23, amounting to around 47% year-on-year growth. In 2023, the largest source of renewable energy generation was solar PV (16% of total generation), followed by wind (12%) and hydro (6%). In 2023, renewable energy generation in Australia increased to 35% of total generation, reaching 96TWh, the highest ever recorded. Specifically, solar energy accounted for 16% of total generation, while wind energy accounted for 12%. In what will be another welcome boost to the renewable energy sector, fossil fuel generation also fell to record lows in the southern and eastern states, declining by 7% on average over the last decade. Coal-fired generation also fell to 47% in 2022-23 and 46% in 2023, compared to a 64% share a decade ago. The report states that solar power has been the largest contributor to renewable energy generation since 2019-20. It also grew the fastest again in 2022-23, further widening the gap between solar power and wind generation. Solar photovoltaic (PV) accounted for 45% of all renewable energy generation and 15% of total electricity generation in Australia. It has been growing by an average of 27% per year over the last decade. South Australia and Tasmania see highest renewable energy consumption The report also indicates that energy consumption in the electricity supply sector decreased in most states due to replacing thermal generation sources, such as coal and gas, with non-thermal renewable energy sources. Solar PV generation displaced thermal power in New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland, while wind power was the primary replacement in Victoria. In 2022-23, South Australia and Tasmania were identified as the two states with the highest renewable energy consumption. Tasmania, which is 100% self-sufficient in renewable electricity generation and has been net zero in six out of the last seven years, saw 42% of its energy from its vast hydropower reserves, while South Australia saw 18% from its abundant solar P...
More >