South Australia aims to have 100% ‘net’ renewable electricty by 2030

SA's Tesla big battery and wind farm (source RenewEconomy)

The South Australian (SA) Liberal government says it expects the state to reach ‘net’ 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. Its grid will have interconnectors to other Australian grids which will allow energy to be imported but mostly exported.

SA’s grid will be supported by solar, wind, pumped hydro, big batteries, other storage, and gas and diesel fast start capacity to ensure reliability. Much of the time the wind, solar and storage energy will be in excess, so SA will be a renewable energy exporter interstate and maybe overseas. It is expected that the amount of fossil fuel generation will be minimal.

For example the first big battery to be installed, the Hornsdale Power Reserve’s Tesla big battery, performed very well in its first year by providing very fast back up to 'trips' in power in SA and the eastern states helping to keep the lights on. SA has and will be adding more batteries and other storage to its grid.

Read more:
- South Australia’s stunning aim to become “net” 100 per cent renewables by 2030. RenewEconomy, June 17 2019.
- How the Tesla big battery became the “heartbeat” of Australia’s main grid. RenewEconomy, December 5 2018.