By Anders Lorenzen

The penetration of renewable energy in Australia‘s main electricity grid has never been higher.

The share of renewables in Australia’s main electricity grid has reached a new high, with rooftop and grid-scale solar, wind and hydro combining to deliver more than 70% of the total underlying demand on Wednesday this week.

According to energy advisory company Global Power Energy (GPE) the share of renewables in Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) reached a record high of 70.5% at 11.45am on Wednesday.

First of many new records

A statement by GEP read: “The NEM renewable energy share has peaked for the day and we have a new record.” They added that they expect the record will be broken many more times before the year is done.

Prior to this new record, the highest renewable energy share in the NEM was 69.6%, reached on the 28th of October 2022.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) confirmed Wednesday’s record high, although it declared the renewable energy share had reached 69.9% between 11am and 11.30am.

AEMO’s figures are based on data recorded at 30-minute intervals while GPE relies on data published at five-minute intervals.

The new renewable generation high comes after operational minimum demand in the NEM reached a record low at the weekend.