RENEWABLE ENERGY

595 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (30 July 2013). What impact is wind and solar energy having on base-load generation investment and what are the limits of wind and solar before base-load investment is unviable?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development): I am advised that the Australian Energy Market Operator's Historical Market Information Report 2013 indicates 1,203 megawatts of wind and 400 megawatts of rooftop solar generation in South Australia in 2012-13. All of this investment has occurred since 2003. In the same period investment in an additional 409 megawatts of conventional generation has occurred.

Investment decisions in relation to conventional and renewable generation are made by private owners and proponents of projects and are influenced by the expected returns from the National Electricity Market, the Commonwealth's Renewable Energy Target and the carbon price.