Wind accounts for 58% of energy use in South Australia by Giles Parkinson

It’s been another big week for wind production in South Australia – as another spring weather system with high winds makes wind energy the dominant force in local energy production.

According to figures pulled together by consultants Intelligent Energy Systems using data from the Australian Market Operator, wind energy produced accounted for 57.9 per cent of demand in the state on Tuesday, and followed up with 55 per cent of total demand on Wednesday.

At the morning peak of 10am, it accounted for 65 per cent – and in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday, when demand was weakest, it accounted for 80 per cent.

These graphs below illustrates what happened on Tuesday and Wednesday. Put together by Intelligent Energy Systems, the key bits to look at are the black line which shows demand. The dark and light blue shades indicate wind energy (dark blue is older installations, light blue the newer ones). Orange represents gas.

The pink stuff at the bottom represents exports from South Australia to other states. On Tuesday, the state was exporting almost all day, as the wind output was quite consistent. On Wednesday, it exported for most of the day and there  is a bit of pink at the top in the late afternoon to indicate coal imported from Victoria. (South Australia's coal generators are in mothballs right now due to the impact of wind, and lower demand, and the carbon price).