In Flinders Ranges National Park in South Australia electricity is provided off-grid with solar panels. Image source: Shutterstock (#405306178)
Industry analysts have revealed that renewables and battery storage will replace gas as South Australia’s main source of electricity in just eight years. 67 percent of the state’s capacity will then be provided by renewable energy.
This energy transition could be a “leading case study on managing a power system in transition for other mature markets to follow”, a report by Wood Mackenzie declares. Especially as battery costs are to fall by 50 percent by 2025.
“Currently, South Australia’s peak loads are managed by open-cycle gas turbine (OCGT) plants,” said Wood Mackenzie’s Asia-Pacific power and renewables principal analyst, Bikal Pokharel. “But, by 2025, battery storage would be cheaper than OCGTs in managing peak loads … OCGTs would then be relegated as emergency back-ups.”
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