SA exporting power and aims to deliver more
SOUTH Australia has shut off on its reliance on Victoria to keep the lights on, consistently exporting power to the east coast.
Data from the national grid operator shows that every week since July, SA has exported more energy than it has brought in from interstate.
Also, the total amount of power being brought in to SA from the east has dwindled and is now about a tenth as much as this time last year.
In the week before Christmas, SA imported just 8810MWh from Victoria.
In the same week a year before, 76,653MWh was needed.
Historically, SA has relied on Victoria for about 20 per cent of its power.
Acting Energy Minister Chris Picton said the data showed SA was meeting its energy requirements in the state and also exporting wind and solar energy.
“When we announced our $550 million energy plan we said we wanted more electricity generated here in South Australia so we are less reliant on imports from interstate,” he said.
“We have also seen South Australia’s Tesla battery helping stabilise the national grid on a number of occasions, including on December 14 when it was dispatched after a generator in Victoria failed.”
Mr Picton said a range of large scale renewable energy projects under development, including the Aurora solar thermal plant at Port Augusta, would increase local output and help lower power prices.
Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood said the results highlighted the benefits of interconnection but warned the switch could be flicked the other way as SA’s summer heated up.