South Australia is at the global forefront of clean energy generation, successfully transitioning its reliance on fossil fuels to reliable renewable energy with a goal of achieving 100% net renewables by 2030.
In just over 15 years South Australia's electricity mix has shifted from below 1% renewables to almost 70% of energy generated by wind and solar, supported by innovative battery storage technologies and gas. By 2025-26 the Australian Energy Market Operator forecasts this could rise to approximately 85%.
Additionally, the South Australian Government Climate Change Action Plan 2021-2025 identifies that South Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy, and a national and international exporter of clean energy, could mean achieving a level of renewable energy that is more than 500% of current local grid demand by 2050.
South Australia's abundance of renewable energy means the state has become a net energy exporter. Project EnergyConnect a new interconnector between South Australia and New South Wales, will support the continued expansion of our renewable sector by enabling green energy produced in South Australia to be exported to NSW, while providing increased power system reliability.
South Australia is one of few places in the world able to meet its total energy demands using renewable energy. In 2021, South Australia met 100% of its operational demand from renewable resources on 180 days.
South Australia boasts:
- more than one in three homes with rooftop solar, one of the highest per capita levels of installed residential solar anywhere in the world
- three large scale solar farms with a generating capacity of 378 megawatts
- large scale wind farms which generated 41% of South Australia’s electricity in 2020-21, including the Lincoln Gap Wind farm
- four grid-scale batteries, headlined by the world-renowned Hornsdale Power Reserve
- one of the highest uptakes of residential batteries in the world - over 34,000 batteries totaling over 355 megawatt-hours
- more than 10,000 residential batteries enrolled in virtual power plants, including South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant
- world class wind and solar resources that provide the perfect environment for global supply of green hydrogen
Invest in Australia's Renewable Energy Capital
South Australia is committed to maximising the economic and job opportunities associated with renewable energy and energy storage projects that will help meet our energy needs and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
The last coal-fired energy station in South Australia was shut down in 2016. South Australia is aiming to generate 100 per cent renewables by 2030.
