Energy in South Australia

South Australia is a leader in utility-scale renewable energy generation, and also produces gas and uranium for electricity generation. Gas production is mostly concentrated in the Cooper Basin in the state's north-east. Gas is delivered from these fields by pipeline to users interstate and to Port Adelaide where it fuels three separate gas-fired power plants. Uranium is also mined in South Australia, though nuclear power generation is prohibited nationally. The Olympic Dam mine is the world's single largest known deposit of uranium and represents 30% of the world's total uranium resource.[1] Many utility-scale wind farms and solar farms have been commissioned during the 21st century and geology with potential for geothermal energy has also been identified but is yet to be developed.[2]

During the Rann government, South Australia advanced plans to make South Australia a green energy hub for Australia's eastern seaboard.[3] Wind power[4] and solar power, including distributed roof-top solar, now provide much of the state's electricity.[5] In the 2020s, proposals emerged to develop green hydrogen production and export capacity.[6] In December 2021, South Australia set a new record for renewable energy generation and resilience, after running entirely on renewable energy for 6.5 consecutive days.[7] In 2022, it was stated that South Australia could soon be powered by only renewable energy. [8]

  1. ^ Uranium 2009: Resources, Production and Demand. Paris, France: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). OECD. 2010. p. 456. ISBN 978-92-64-04789-1.
  2. ^ "Clean energy grid for solar australia". The Greens. Greens.org. 17 August 2010. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  3. ^ "South Australia to become green energy hub". West Australian Publishers. 21 August 2009. Archived from the original on 5 September 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  4. ^ "Wind Energy – How it works". Clearenergycouncil. Archived from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  5. ^ Parkinson, Giles (2 November 2021). ""Remarkable:" South Australia reached 100 pct renewables nearly every day in October". RenewEconomy. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021.
  6. ^ Marshall, Steven; van Holst Pellekaan, Dan (9 December 2021). "$750 million Green Hydrogen Project for Port Pirie" (Press release). Premier of South Australia. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  7. ^ "South Australia sets renewable energy record". planetark.org. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  8. ^ ""Remarkable:" South Australia may soon be first big grid to run on renewables only". 15 September 2022.