Extreme heat pushed electricity demand in South Australia and Victoria to record levels. Wind and solar did the heavy lifting, easing pressure on the grid and curbing price spikes.

South Australia has absolutely smashed its electricity demand records, but also the contribution from wind and solar in the extraordinary heatwave that has cooked the south-east of the country – but thankfully not the grid – in recent days.

According to Geoff Eldridge, an energy expert from Global Power Energy NEMLog, native (or underlying) demand in South Australia hit an unprecedented peak of 4,235 megawatts (MW) at 1.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday – absolutely smashing the previous peak of 3,832 MW set on January 8 by more than 10 per cent.

Fortunately, the contribution of wind and solar also hit a new peak at the same time – of 3,956 MW – also beating its previous record of 3,481 MW set on January 8 by more than 10 per cent.

A similar story was told in Victoria, which........

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