Wind power became a significant energy source within South Australia over the first two decades of the 21st century. In 2015, there was an installed capacity of 1,475 MW, which accounted for 34% of electricity production in the state.[1] This accounted for 35% of Australia's installed wind power capacity.[1] In 2021, there was an installed capacity of 2052.95 MW, which accounted for 42.1% of the electricity production in the state in 2020.[2][3]
The development of wind power capacity in South Australia has been encouraged by a number of factors. These include the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Target, which require electricity retailers to source a proportion of energy from renewable sources, incentives from the South Australian Government including a supportive regulatory regime and a payroll tax rebate scheme for large scale renewable energy developments. Also the state's proximity to the Roaring forties means there are high quality wind resources for wind farms to exploit. In mid-2009, RenewablesSA was established by the South Australian Government to encourage further investment in renewable energy in the state.[4]
The load factor (or capacity factor) for South Australian wind farms is usually in the range of 32-38%. This means that a wind farm could typically produce between 32 and 38% of its nameplate capacity averaged over a year.[5]
- ^ a b "Clean Energy Australia Report 2015". Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "OpenNEM: South Australia". opennem.org.au. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "NEM Generation Information July 2021". AEMO. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Renewable Energy: - Wind Energy in South Australia". Wind Energy South Australia. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
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