Australia's Three States Hit Record Large-Scale Solar Output in August 2026, Reaching 684 GWh Maximum

en.Wedoany.com Reported - According to statistics from energy research and intelligence firm Rystad Energy, in August 2026, utility-scale solar power generation in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland, and Victoria all reached record highs, hitting 684 GWh, 665 GWh, and 213 GWh respectively.

David Dixon, Senior Analyst at Rystad Energy, noted that combined generation from Australia's utility-scale solar and wind assets totaled 4.99 TWh in August, up 3% from 4.86 TWh in August 2025.

Within the National Electricity Market (NEM), curtailment of utility-scale solar was lower than the previous year: in August 2026, curtailment stood at 168 GWh, accounting for approximately 9% of potential generation; in August 2025, curtailment was 284 GWh, representing about 18% of renewable energy generation.

Among individual utility-scale solar plants, Queensland claimed the top three spots nationally for the month, with all these plants recording an average AC capacity factor (CF) of 28%. These included the 100 MW Phase 1 project of Pacific Blue Australia's Haughton Solar Farm, the 204 MW Edenvale Solar Park co-owned by Japanese companies Eneos and Sojitz, and Genex Power's 50 MW Kidston project in far northern Queensland, which also ranked in the top three.

In wind power, the best-performing project for the month came from Western Australia, with Potentia Energy's Flat Rocks Wind Farm leading the nation with an average capacity factor of 51%.

By state, Victoria recorded the highest combined utility-scale solar and wind generation in August at 1,387 GWh, of which 213 GWh came from large-scale solar.

In the same month, more than 1 GW of utility-scale generation and storage assets in Australia reached financial close, including Edify Energy's adjacent Ganymirra and Majors Creek projects (totaling 300 MW of solar generation and 300 MW / 1,200 MWh of battery energy storage), BW ESS's 250 MW / 1,000 MWh Yanco Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in New South Wales, and Quinbrook's 260 MW / 1,216 MWh Supernode Phase 3 BESS in Queensland.