Australian solar power generated more energy on Sunday than coal for the first time since the market was set up two decades ago.
The crossover point lasted for only a few minutes, as low demand and sunny skies on Sunday meant the contribution from coal dropped to a record low of 9315MW just after noon, while solar provided the dominant share with 9427MW, according to reports.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific chief executive David Ritter said: “Coal is now the most expensive, unreliable and polluting way to source power.
“With a planned transition, we can comfortably shut all coal-burning power stations by 2030.
“The Clean Energy Revolution is here – investors know it, business knows it, leaders around the globe know it – it’s just our government that’s left lagging behind.
“To enable the shift to clean energy and continue to encourage investment, we need to modernise the grid, update the NEM and commit to coal-burning power station closure.”