Wind and Solar Energy Output Increases 20% in January 2026
According to recent data, Australia’s large-scale wind and solar farms produced 20% more energy in January 2026 compared to January 2025, primarily driven by a strong wind output in Western Australia and increased solar generation in New South Wales.
Rystad Energy’s monthly report on the country’s top-performing utility-scale solar and wind assets highlights that four of the five best performers for January are situated in the west, with the 180 megawatt (MW) Warradarge wind farm leading the pack, achieving an impressive capacity factor (CF) of 55%.
Warradarge Wind Farm Expansion
Warradarge has frequently appeared on the list of top performers and is located in WA’s breezy Mid West region. It is owned by Bright Energy Investments (BEI), a collaboration between the state-owned utility Synergy and Potentia Energy. Currently, the wind farm is set to expand, adding an additional 30 turbines to its existing 51, thereby increasing its total generating capacity to 283 MW.
Top Solar Farms Performance
In terms of solar energy, the best-performing photovoltaic (PV) farms for January were found across New South Wales and Western Australia. Leading the solar charts was Neoen’s Griffith project with a capacity factor of 44.3% AC CF, followed by Sun Energy’s Merredin in WA at 42.6% AC CF and the Greenough River project (41.1% AC CF) being a joint venture between Potentia Energy and Synergy.
Additionally, the Glenrowan solar farm in Victoria secured the fifth position on the list.
State-by-State Generation Insights
According to Rystad’s David Dixon, New South Wales emerged as the leader in combined solar and wind generation for January, generating a total of 1,802 GWh, comprised of 695 GWh from wind and 1,107 GWh from utility-scale PV systems.
For those interested in staying updated with the latest clean energy developments, over 29,000 subscribers receive our free daily newsletter directly in their inbox.
