Australia’s Grid Hits Record Renewable Energy Share from Rooftop Solar

A surge in rooftop solar generation has propelled Australia’s main grid to a remarkable new record, with renewable energy comprising nearly 80 per cent of total generation on a sunny Friday afternoon in Spring.

According to data from OpenElectricity.org, the National Electricity Market (NEM) recorded a renewable energy share of 79.5 per cent at 1.30 pm on Friday, September 18. This surpassed the previous record set nearly a year ago, which stood at 78.6 per cent at 11.30 am on Saturday, October 11, 2025, as measured by the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Details of the Record Achievement

This new record is calculated based on 30-minute intervals, following the methodology employed by the Australian Energy Market Operator. However, some analysts have indicated that, according to 5-minute data, the proportion of renewables may have reached as high as 80.1 per cent.

At the time this record high was recorded, renewables were generating a total of 26,316 megawatts (MW) for the NEM, compared to a mere 2,000 MW from fossil fuels.

Composition of the Energy Mix

Rooftop solar was a significant contributor, accounting for almost half of the generation at the time, with a share of 47.9 per cent. This was followed by utility-scale solar, which provided 22.1 per cent. Brown and black coal combined made up about 20 per cent of the overall energy mix.

In stark contrast, gas played a minimal role, contributing less than 1 per cent to the generation at that moment.

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