(Sydney) Coal’s share of Australia’s electricity generation fell below 50% for the first time in the last week of August, a record low alongside a rise in the share of renewables, according to public data seen on Wednesday.
According to public electricity market data monitoring platform Open-NEM, coal generated 49.1% of Australia’s electricity in the last week of August, while renewables accounted for 48.7%, with storms boosting wind generation.
Australia remains one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas, and is heavily reliant on fossil fuels to generate its electricity.
According to climate finance expert Tim Buckley, the August low was caused by turbulent weather and high temperatures for a transition to the southern spring, which reduced demand by up to 20%.
Winds exceeding 150 km/h in the southeast of the country have almost doubled wind-generated electricity production.
“It’s a historic low for coal’s share of the Australian electricity market, but it’s also a sign of where we’re headed,” Buckley told AFP, saying that “in just a few years, coal’s share will be virtually zero.”
Between 2022 and 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 91% of national energy consumption, a broader indicator than electricity production since it includes fuels used in the transport and industrial sectors.