This is a repost from one of our sister publications, Windermere Sun, below:
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
On Monday, September 20, 2021, the share of renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydro) on Australia’s main electricity grid shot above 60% (at 60.1%) for the first time at 12:10 pm, exactly one day and 15 minutes after its previous peak and record of 59.8% on Sunday, September 19, 2021, according to Dylan McConnell of the Climate Energy College in Melbourne, Australia, using data from OpenNEM. This new peak highlights the increased pace of transition into the clean or renewable energy and the shrinking output of coal as more solar and wind are rolled out across Australia. According to another data watcher, Geoff Eldridge from NEWLog, Sunday, September 19, 2021, did not just break the record for the share of renewable energy, but also the record for instantaneous wind and solar at 57%. The Australian Energy Market Operator also noticed: NSW record maximum rooftop solar PV (2,694.4 MW) and corresponding lowest minimums for network demand (4,867.4 MW) and Operation Demand (5,065.0 MW) and tweeted on Friday, September 24, 2021, “Spring is the season for records to bloom! Forecast mild temperatures and sunny weather in NSW and QLD on Sunday may see rooftop solar drive down energy demand from the grid to a new record low!” With such occurrence, NSW, the Australian state grid with the highest dependency on coal generation, would find it easier to align with the state government’s push to replace the aging coal fleet of more than 10GW with wind, solar, and storage under its renewable infrastructure plan. According to Eldridge of NEMLog, coal output on the main grid was at a record minimum of 9,161.6 MW at noon on Sunday, September 19, 2021 (or, at leas the lowest since Nov. 1, 2020), and was down 153.57 MW on the previous minimum on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. It was also a record low share of coal generation (38.97%) on the main grid and for combined coal and gas (40.05%). The share of solar and wind could have been significantly higher were it not for the level of curtailment, either economic (switching off to avoid negative prices) or network (being forced to switch off due to grid issues or capacity constraints). On Sunday, September 19, 2021, the level of curtailment was more than 3.5 GW when that short-lived record was set. As the rollout of solar, wind, and storage (both battery and pumped hydro) continues to enter the grid, more records will change. AEMO forecasts that the rooftop solar, alone, will be able to reach 100% of demand in the state of South Australia some time this Spring (of Australia), around October, a FIRST for any gigawatt scale grid in the world! AEMO is also predicting that rooftop solar could meet up to 75% of demand on the entire main grid within next five years and is preparing the national grid to accommodate times of up to 100% solar and wind by 2025. ABC News: South Australia’s renewable energy boom has achieved a global milestone, in the video published on Oct. 25, 2020, “ABC News: South Australia runs purely on solar power in world first“, below:
Australia is preparing to build the world’s most powerful solar power plant. Engineers and builders will have to solve complex problems to cover an area equal to 17 thousand football fields that accommodate photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of 10 Gigawatts. The second challenge will be to transfer this energy to Singapore, the main consumer of electricity. There is also talk of exporting energy to Indonesia and various parts of Asia. But how exactly will the power plant be able to power a country more than three thousand kilometers away? In the video published on Sep. 21, 2021, “How Australia’s Most Powerful $16 Billion Solar Power plant Will Power Singapore“, below:
To begin with, it is worth understanding why energy problems have arisen in one of the most developed countries in the world. Australia faces regular power outages, and, unfortunately, South Australia suffers the most. There may be a lot of reasons: for instance, in September 2016, due to a storm, almost the entire state was left without electricity. One reason for the outages is that there are not enough storage facilities on the territory to supply more electricity during peak loads. The local authorities could not ensure the commensurate development of their own energy or storage capacities capable of providing electricity supplies during calm or cloudy weather. And it is quite difficult to restore the network because of the climatic conditions and long distances – Australia is not a tiny country. At the same time, electricity prices in the country are considered one of the highest in the world, in the video published on Jan. 13, 2021, “HOW ELON MUSK MANAGED TO SOLVE THE ENERGY CRISIS IN AUSTRALIA“, below:
In the video published on Oct. 29, 2017, “Elon Musk gets emotional over Australia’s energy emergency (Part Two) | 60 Minutes Australia“, below:
Australian Renewable Energy Agency CEO Darren Miller told Sky News Australia has made “incredible progress” in the transition to renewable energy sources, in the video published on May 18, 2021, “Australia making ‘incredible progress’ in the transition to renewable energy”, below:
Internationally recognized leader on global climate change, Christiana Figueres tells Liz Hayes we have just three years to get our renewable energy house in order, in the video published on Oct. 31, 2017, “Australians have just three years to get our renewable energy house in order | 60 Minutes Australia“, below:
Astronomer Antoine Caron Studying Solar Eclipse (public domain in USA)
Solar Eclipse path map for March 8/9, 2016
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Sharing an event that’s occurred between March 8-9, 2016:
For Movement of March 2016 Total Solar Eclipse Shadow (Animation), below:
The moon will pass in front of the sun, casting its shadow over much of Southeast Asia on March 8, 2016 EST (March 9 local time). People on the nearly 100-mile-wide path of totality will experience a total solar eclipse, in which all of the sun’s bright face is blocked by the moon, while people outside this path will see varying degrees of a partial eclipse.
The total solar eclipse was visible from parts of Indonesia including Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi, and from locations in the Pacific Ocean. Observers in northern and eastern Australia, in South Asia, and in East Asia were able to see a partial eclipse. Take a look at the Solar Eclipse on March 9, 2016, from the Pacific Ocean, below:
For better understanding of Solar Eclipse, please feel free to visit our previous posts at:
Glorious Day For Solar Cars Parade at Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan SUn Nunamaker). It is Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 (Adelaide time) but Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015 in some parts of the world.
The Solar Car Parade of World Solar Challenge will start at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015 (Adelaide time…although it is still Oct. 24, 2015 in some parts of the world), at Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia. It’s a glorious day for Solar Car Parade and a glorious time for Solar Energy Future!
Solar Car Parade of World Solar Challenge 2015 at Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Below is the video of the Solar Cars that came in on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. A great big applause for all of these teams, students, and supporters for their time, energy, and effort. It’s been a great learning opportunity for all of us! More will be posted and video uploaded later.
Below is the video of all of the solar cars that participated in World Solar Challenge 2015 Solar Car Parade on Oct. 25, 2015, at the Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia:
You may also be interested in these posts from the past, below:
38 TEAMS SHINE IN ADELAIDE Adelaide turned on the sun today to welcome home all teams from the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. It was a journey of adventure and endurance across 3,000 gruelling kilometres. Teams faced adversity, for some such as Cambridge from the UK the challenge was over before it
RESOLUTION of Cambridge University Eco Racing Team (UK) of Challenger Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker of www.sunisthefuture.net)
HI-TECH of Hachinohe Institute of Technology (Japan) in Adventure Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: World Solar Challenge)
began, having gotten their solar cars to Darwin only to be faced with the reality of not being able to compete. For others the strong wind gusts, dust storms, rolling spinifex and sheer distance proved too much. Regardless of their placing, all teams had reason to celebrate their achievements and were given a rousing reception and their moment in the sun on the official finish line at Hindmarsh Square in Adelaide. In the Challenger class, Onda Solare from Italy in their solar car Emilia 3,
EMILIA 3 of Universita Di Bologna's Onda Solare Team (Italy) in Challenger Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker of www.sunishefuture.net)
made the 3020 kilometres under solar power for the first time crossing the finish line at 4.25 pm on Friday putting them into the top ten. In the Adventure Class, Team Antakari from Chile also made the distance under
ANTIKALLPA 2 of Antakari Team of Universidad de La Serena y Minera Los Pelambres (Chile) in Adventure Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: World Solar Challenge)
full solar power crossing at 9.31am Saturday morning which put them in second place in their class. With 22 countries competing in Australia for the event, the Challenge welcomed first timers: China, Sweden, Indonesia, and Colombia.
SUN SHUTTLE of Beijing Institute of Technology (China) in Challenger Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker of www.sunisthefuture.net)
NATURAL MAGIC ENERGY of Ju Solar System Jonkopoing University (Sweden)'s first entry at World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker of www.sunisthefuture.net)
SAPU ANGIN SURYA of ITS Solar Car Team of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Surabaya (Indonesia) in Challenger Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker of www.sunisthefuture.net)
PRIMAVERA of EAFIT-EPM Solar Car Team of EAFIT University (Colombia) in Challenger Class of World Solar Challenge 2013 (photo credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker of www.sunisthefuture.net)
China’s entrant from the Beijing Institute of Technology, Sun Shuttle, was welcomed into Adelaide today, having recorded 1398 solar kilometres. Colombia’s Universidad EAFIT Empress Publicas de Medelin, in their solar car Primavera, recorded 2505 solar kilometres; The Jonkoping University team from Sweden in their solar car, Natural Magic Energy, struck difficulties in the windy conditions, despite their damaged car they managed to record 1301 solar kilometres; and the team from Indonesia’s Intitut Teknologi Sepuluh Surabaya in their solar car Sapu Angin Surya drove 748 kilometres under solar power. Event Director Chris Selwood congratulated all the teams saying the spirit of competition is just as important as the result. “This is a truly unique event that brings people from diverse backgrounds and cultures together across the Australian outback. I look forward to our final day tomorrow, with our first ever street parade from 2pm followed by the Awards Ceremony and the announcement of the inaugural Cruiser Class winner,” he said.
For Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, activities at Hindmarsh Square will include:
38 solar car teams from 22 countries
Hire a free Adelaide City Bike
Adelaide Clean Drive – free test drive – some of the latest lowest emission production cars through the city streets
Feast on Fork on the Road, from 12noon Sunday
The world’s first solar car street parade, from 2pm Sunday starting in Hindmarsh Square and travelling through the city streets to Edwards park.
For a closer look at many of the solar cars participating at World Solar Challenge 2013, please feel free to click->Sunisthefuture Photo Gallery.
More development will be brought forward as the challenge progresses. Keep checking back www.sunisthefuture.net for more !
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on World Solar Challenge 2013 and solar energy topics:
NUNA 7 of Nuon Solar Team of Delft University of Technology(Netherlands), Leading By The End of First Day (Oct. 6, 2013) of the World Solar Challenge 2013 (solar car race) in Challenger Class (Credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Below is the video of beginning of the World Solar Challenge 2013 (Oct. 6, 2013), in front of the Parliament House at Darwin, Australia.
ARROW1 of Team Arrow of Queensland University of Technology (Australia) seen on Oct. 5, 2013, after dynamic scrutineering process at Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex at Darwin, Australia (Credit sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
ARROW1 of Team Arrow of Queensland University of Technology (Australia) at starting line on Oct. 6, 2013, in front of the Parliament House of Darwin, Australia, also in fifth place of the Challenger Class by the end of the First Day of World Solar Challenge 2013 (Credit: World Solar Challenge 2013)
PROVISIONAL RESULTS DAY 1 of World Solar Challenge 2013
Team Nuon from the Netherlands, in their solar car Nuna 7, took an early lead in the Challenger Class of the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and at the end of day one are approximately 633 kilometres south of Darwin. Just 32 kilometres behind at the Dunmarra Control Stop there is one minute separating second placed Team Twente in ‘Red Engine’ also from the Netherlands
THE RED ENGINE of University of Twente and Saxion, University of Applied Sciences-Solar Team Twente in Second Place by the End of The First Day, Oct. 6, 2013, during World Solar Challenge 2013, Challenger Class (Crdit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
and the 2011 Champion team Tokai from Japan, who as predicted, made up time early from 20th position on the starting grid.
TOKAI CHALLENGER of Tokai University (Japan)'s Tokai University Team in third place at the End of the First Day of World Solar Challenge 2013, Challenger Class (Credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
University of Michigan Solar Car Team’s-Generation, is in fourth place by the end of the first day.
GENERATION of University of Michigan Solar Car Team in Fourth of Challenger Class by the end of The First Day (Oct. 6, 2013) of World Solar Challenge 2013 (Credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
approximately 10 kilometres out of Dunmarra with Australia’s Team Arrow showing they can mix it with the elite international field just behind in fifth place. In the Cruiser Class team Bochum from Germany
POWERCORE SUNCRUISER of Germany's University of Applied Sciences Bochum's Hochschule Bochum SolarCar Team in the first place of the Cruiser Class at World Solar Challenge 2013 by the end of the first day (Oct. 6, 2013) (Credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
is in first place approximately sixty kilometres north of Dunmarra, with team Eindhoven from the Netherlands
STELLA of Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands)'s Solar Team Eindhoven in second place for Cruiser Class by the end of the first day (Oct. 6, 2013) of World Solar Challenge 2013 (Credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
just five kilometres behind in second place, the DAEDALUS of Minnesota Solar team from the University of Minnesota (USA) in third
DAEDALUS of University of Minnesota (USA) in third place of Cruiser Class by the end of the first day of World Solar Challenge 2013 (Credit: World Solar Challenge 2013).
place and University of NSW Sunswift team in fourth place
SUNSWIFT of University NSW (Australia) in Fourth of Cruiser Class by the end of the first day of World Solar Challenge 2013 (Credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
approximately 100 kilometres north of Dunmarra. Leading the Adventure Class was Australia’s team Aurora who have never missed a solar challenge; followed by IVE from Hong Kong and Antakari from Chile.
For more photos and videos of World Solar Challenge 2013, please refer to links below:
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Keep in mind that the goal here at Sun Is The Future is to speed up the transition toward renewable/solar energy, for a cleaner, healthier, economically more prosperous, and safer planet earth.
~have a bright and sunny day~
gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
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