South Australia leads the world in the uptake of wind and solar – averaging more than 71 per cent over the past year and regularly delivering more than 100 per cent of its local demand. It’s a relatively small state with a modest economy. But now California, the world’s biggest sub-national economy, and the fifth biggest in the world if it were a country, is also setting new benchmarks for renewables, with its wind, solar and hydro resources more than matching demand over the past week. According to Mark Jacobsen, the Stanford University academic who has outlined plans for wind, water and solar to provide the bulk, if not all, electricity needs in countries across the globe, California’s wind, water and solar resources have bested 100 per cent of local demand for varying periods in nine of the last 10 days.
Renew Economy 18th March 2024 read more »