The last 3 days (Jan 7-9) have all had extreme electricity demand on Australia's NEM. When you include demand met by rooftop solar, they rank as #1, #4 & #2 all-time respectively. Thankfully wind & solar generation were excellent, as they typically are on extreme demand days. /1

Australia's main electricity grid, the NEM, had record breaking demand the last couple days, 1st & 3rd highest in history including demand met by rooftop PV. Wind & particularly PV has performed very well during this period, following a long tradition of reducing peak demand. /1

I'd just noticed the same while doing my weekly simulation. Looks like it broke the 39.36GW record set on Dec 16 last year. Wind and solar have performed very well on the 4 highest native demand NEM events. Not surprising for solar, but perhaps more surprising for wind. bsky.app/profile/davi...

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 228 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Grass roots. My @smh cartoon.

Australia Electricity Emissions Update: Average NEM emission intensity over last 12 months: 519 kg CO2-e/MWh (down 24% since 2020, down 37% since 2015) Sth Australia leading the way in reductions thanks to its increase in wind & solar generation. Down 26% since 2020, 66% since 2015.

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 227 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

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The NEM has only had 3 occasions where native demand exceeded 37.8 GW. Last week on Dec 18, and last year on Feb 22 & Dec 16. The simulation was 100% renewable on all these days, thanks to good wind & excellent solar. A mostly renewable NEM copes well with extreme demand.

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100.0% RE Last 226 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Australia's main electricity grid, the NEM, will soon have 40GW/113GWh of storage (not including Snowy2.0). That's enough storage to power the grid for about 4.5hrs at average demand of ~25GW /1

Extreme native NEM demand on Thu & Fri last week, hitting 38.0 GW on Thu Dec 18 at 3:25pm NEM time & 37.6 GW 1:25pm on Fri. Av. native demand in 2025 is 24.9 GW. Rooftop PV once again demonstrating that it dramatically reduces peak grid demand, peaking at 32.7 GW at 6pm on Dec 18. /1

Here's @ronnisalt. "Don't look back in anger" theshot.net.au/uncategorize...

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 225 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

In 1991 Mt Pinatubo spewed out 50 MILLION TONNES OF CO₂!! That's a ridiculously MASSIVE amount!

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100.0% RE Last 224 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Changes from AEMO's 2024 ISP to today's Draft 2026 ISP: - A large extension in black coal operations - A large reduction in flexible gas capacity - An increase in utility solar at the expense of wind - a large increase in utility storage, at the expense of coordinated CER storage

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 223 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

November was the first month that utility batteries discharged more energy than peaking (OCGT) gas on Australia's NEM. According to the 2024 ISP, it will only be a few years before batteries are the primary firmer of renewables, exceeding the output of all gas and hydro.

Australia Electricity Emissions Update: Average NEM emission intensity over last 12 months: 524 kg CO2-e/MWh (down 23% in 5-yrs, down 37% in 10-yrs) Sth Australia leading the way in reductions thanks to its increase in wind & solar generation. Down 28% in 5-yrs, 66% in 10-yrs)

Australia’s emissions down 2.2% last financial year. Govt says it is the biggest annual drop in gross emissions recorded (ie not counting land/forests). This has been put out ahead of a dump of climate documents and Chris Bowen making his annual climate statement.

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 222 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 221 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Factchecking five Coalition claims about net zero, from power prices to the $9tn cost www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

When the #ParisAgreement was signed, a huge global boom in coal was happening, threatening 4 degrees of warming. 10 years later, and coal's generation increased by the FOURTH most. Solar #1, wind #2 💪💪💪

Hi Milly, SA had the highest prices in the country back in 2010, before renewables became significant. High wholesale prices made it an attractive market for renewables. It had high prices due to lack of cheap coal, peaky demand & lots of poles per customer. threadreaderapp.com/thread/16688...

Love this chart from Ember via @reneweconomy.com.au Shows that the growth in solar and wind generation is finally starting to exceed the growth in demand, so that fossil generation is declining. That is true in both China & India, as well as globally.

A Clear Air column today. It's a pretty long one. Could have been longer. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 220 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100.0% RE Last 219 weeks: 98.6% RE (1/5)

Australian Electricity Emission Intensity Update: Average NEM emission intensity over last 12 months: 529 kg CO2-e/MWh (down 26% in 5-yrs, down 37% in 10-yrs) Sth Australia leading the way reductions thanks to its increase in wind & solar generation. Down 30% in 5-yrs, 66% in 10-yrs)

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 218 weeks: 98.5% RE (1/5)

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100.0% RE Last 217 weeks: 98.5% RE (1/5)

Time for 2025 updates to my annual “opinions about solar” thread. If you like these, you might like the second edition of my book, Solar Power Finance Without The Jargon. A 30% discount code WSQ0437 is valid on publisher website until end of November 2025. www.worldscientific.com/worldscibook...

BREAKING! 🧵(1 of 3) Rainforest Reserves Australia used to be a legit NGO in the Queensland Wet Tropics. They fought off a windfarm near a national park, but then were turned into an anti-RE propaganda source for Sky, Advance & the fossil #AtlasNetwork www.rainforestreserves.org.au/media-releas...

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 216 weeks: 98.5% RE (1/5)

"Back in January 2011, Santos's then-chief executive David Knox announced that the company would lead a consortium to build a massive LNG export facility on Curtis Island, just off the Queensland coast near Gladstone," Verrender, who gets it all pretty right. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

Excellent report from the Grattan Institute recommending a modifed Safeguard mechanism be applied to electricity. Related to this, it's worth noting that ACCUs are currently trading for $38 while just $11 for LGCs. I'd argue that LGCs offer better quality carbon offset for less than 1/3 price /1

Imagine kicking the former national rugby captain out of your sports club instead of the gambling lobby. To paraphrase Groucho Marx, who'd want to belong to a club that would accept Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its sponsors?

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 215 weeks: 98.5% RE (1/5)

1/2 "everyone from News Corp to the Atlas Network, to Advance, to CPAC, to Gina Rinehart are busting a foofer valve—and spending a great deal of money—making the case for the takeover" It’s the process, says @timdunlop.bsky.social, not Andrew Hastie per se. tdunlop.substack.com/p/i-suppose-...

The cost of the ACT 100% renewable target dropped to just $3/MWh in the June quarter of 2025. The cost of the scheme is negatively correlated to the wholesale electricity price, providing ACT consumers a valuable shield against volatile electricty prices. /1

Electricity Emission Intensity steadily reducing on Australia's NEM thanks to the growth of wind and solar displacing fossil generation. Sth Australia leading the way in reductions, down 29% over the last 5-years, down 66% over the last 10-years.

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 214 weeks: 98.5% RE (1/5)

It's important to call this stuff out.

Several really cool announcements over the last few days indicating that Australia's big mines are going renewable! Links in the following thread

Thread: Each week I run a simulation of Australia’s main electricity grid using rescaled generation data to show that it can get very close to 100% renewable electricity with 24GW/120GWh of storage (5 hrs at av demand) Results: Last week: 100% RE Last 213 weeks: 98.5% RE (1/5)

Why every Sankey diagram you've ever seen is wrong. open.substack.com/pub/mliebrei...

This week on @cleaninguppod.bsky.social I was joined for a 2nd time by @hannahritchie.bsky.social. She's got a new book called Clearing the Air. 50 common questions about climate solutions? 50 little misinformation demons laid to rest! Hannah's is such a valuable voice. youtu.be/voLbbuPEWY4?...