Queensland Achieves Record Renewable Energy Share on Autumn’s Last Day
On Sunday, 31 May 2026, Queensland achieved a remarkable milestone, reaching a new maximum instantaneous share of renewable energy plus storage (RES) consumption at 79.5% at 11:20 hrs, coinciding with the last day of autumn and just a day before the onset of winter in Australia.
This new high surpassed the previous record of 78.4%, recorded at 11:40 hrs on Monday, 13 April 2026, by 1.1 percentage points. For context, just a year prior, the record stood at 76.6% at 11:15 hrs on Sunday, 20 October 2024, indicating a significant increase of nearly 2.9 percentage points.
Increased Battery Utilisation
Additionally, Queensland set a new benchmark for its maximum instantaneous Battery Share of Consumption, hitting 16.9% at 10:50 hrs. This narrowly beat the previous week’s record of 16.8%, which was established just eight days earlier on 23 May.
For comparison, a year earlier, the Battery Share was just 6.4% at 11:00 hrs on 18 May 2025, illustrating the rapid advancements in storage technology within the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Significance of the Renewable Share Record
This record is particularly significant due to its timing, as high renewable share records are usually observed in spring. Queensland’s achievement on the last day of autumn demonstrates its capability of maintaining nearly 80% RES consumption even as the winter season approaches.
A few noteworthy observations include the fact that this was not merely a renewables record, but a testament to flexibility: Queensland managed to maintain a 79.5% RES share while utilising batteries, exports, and some curtailment to balance the surplus solar energy during midday.
Interestingly, the strong performance was supported by over 4 GW of rooftop solar, impressive grid-scale solar outputs, over 1.2 GW of battery charging, along with net exports and some degree of curtailment during a late-autumn midday interval.
Insights into Average Performance
The battery share performance is noteworthy, with Queensland achieving a 16.9% consumption share compared to just 6.4% from the previous year, underscoring the rapid emergence of storage as a crucial component in NEM operations.
It’s important to note that the record was predominantly observed during the late-morning solar peak rather than sustained throughout the day. The average RES share of consumption for the entire day was 40.5%, marking the 60th highest since tracking began on 23 March 2018, as opposed to the daily record of 45.5% on 30 March 2026 and the third highest of 44.9% on 8 May 2026.
This instantaneous five-minute record serves as an indicator of how Queensland’s operational boundaries are shifting with the growth of solar energy, storage capabilities, and system flexibility.
In summary, this achievement signifies Queensland’s progressive transition from merely seasonal peaks to a more consistent operational reality. The combination of high solar generation, an increasing rate of battery storage, and effective management strategies like curtailment are pushing the RES share towards 80%, even as autumn comes to an end.
