Queensland Achieves Record Wind and Battery Output Amid Declining Gas Generation

Queensland Leads the Way in Renewable Energy for April

New data has shown that Queensland has excelled in wind, solar, and battery production during April, marking a remarkable 112 per cent rise in wind energy generation compared to the previous year, alongside historic achievements for large batteries.

According to the latest figures released by Rystad Energy, April proved to be a particularly windy month, leading to year-on-year increases in wind production across all states within the National Electricity Market (NEM). However, Queensland stood out, generating 578 gigawatt-hours (GWh) from wind farms, a significant rise from 273 GWh in April 2025.

Outstanding Performance in Solar and Wind

Rystad analyst David Dixon noted that Queensland also secured the top position for combined large-scale solar and wind generation, reaching a total of 1,256 GWh, with solar energy contributing 678 GWh to this output.

Additionally, April marked a significant milestone for battery energy storage in Queensland, with utility-scale systems discharging over 100 GWh for the first time in NEM history during a single month.

Market Trends and Decreased Gas Generation

Dixon commented on LinkedIn, stating, “NEM intraday spreads have collapsed as batteries continue to ramp up,” revealing that the average two-hour intraday spread was under $A110 per megawatt-hour (MWh) throughout all states, aside from South Australia, which had a spread of $A154 per MWh. “It’s important to remember that April is generally a period of low demand,” he added.

In total, Rystad reports that utility photovoltaic (PV) and wind assets across Australia generated 4.7 TWh in April 2026, which represents a 24 per cent increase from 3.8 TWh in April 2025.

The leading wind farms, located in Queensland and Tasmania, were highlighted, particularly the Granville Harbour wind farm in Tasmania’s Tarkine region, which achieved an impressive capacity factor of 51.5 per cent. The Cattle Hill wind farm in central Tasmania also performed well, scoring a capacity factor of 50.4 per cent, while Queensland’s Kennedy Energy wind farm recorded a capacity factor of 48 per cent.

Utility PV Performance and Decline in Gas Generation

For utility-scale PV, the highest performing installations were found in Queensland and New South Wales, according to Dixon.

Gas generation across the NEM saw a significant decline, dropping by 49 per cent from 745 GWh in April of last year to just 382 GWh this month. “This is the lowest monthly gas generation witnessed in over twenty years,” Dixon remarked, attributing the decline to batteries increasingly replacing gas during peak evening demand.