Queensland set back-to-back records for minimum electricity demand from the grid over the weekend, driven by mild weather and strong rooftop solar generation.
On Saturday, operational demand fell to 3,040 MW at 1 pm AEST, before dropping further on Sunday to 2,790 MW at 11:30 am AEST — nearly 10% lower than the previous record of 3,091 MW set on 17 August 2025.
During the low-demand period, rooftop solar accounted for 52% of operational demand, while black coal supplied 40%, grid-scale solar 6%, wind 1%, and gas 1%. Wholesale spot prices in the state dropped to -$41.83/MWh.
Energy market data showed that when prices turned negative, 2.6% of total generation was directed to battery charging, 5.6% was used for hydro pumping, and 7.7% was exported to neighbouring states.
The figures highlight the growing influence of rooftop solar on Queensland’s energy mix and the increasing need for flexible generation and storage solutions.
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