South Australia's Green Dream Hits a Speed Bump: Can Renewables Still Race Ahead?

Imagine a state bathed in sunshine and wind, its power grid humming with clean energy. That's the ambitious vision of South Australia (SA), aiming to be the world's first to achieve 100% net renewable energy by 2027. But this green dream has hit a speed bump – delays in a critical power transmission project.

This means the future of their energy might be a little less certain. The delay in Project Energy Connect (PEC), a $2.3 billion superhighway for electricity, could lead to potential power shortages in the next few years. This might mean higher electricity bills or even blackouts, especially during peak demand periods.

The delay in PEC is a technical snag. This 800-megawatt power line is crucial for SA to:

• Export excess wind and solar power to neighboring states, maximizing their renewable potential.

• Reduce reliance on gas-fired generators for grid stability, which are dirty and expensive.