South Australia (SA1) experienced high renewable penetration at 88% during the evening period of 21 July 2026, with wind generation dominating at 762.3 MW. Wholesale electricity prices remained relatively modest, ranging between $29.65/MWh and $69.27/MWh across the five-minute settlement intervals, indicating the system successfully accommodated the high renewable output.
The high renewable penetration was driven by substantial wind generation (762.3 MW) during this period, with solar contribution negligible at zero output typical of early evening conditions. The binding constraint F_T+RREG_0050 was active throughout with marginal values ranging from $2.38/MWh to $3.73/MWh, indicating this constraint was limiting dispatch and contributing to price formation, though the relatively low marginal values suggest the constraint was not severely restrictive to the overall market outcome.
Causal analysis generated by gridIQ's synthesis model from live AEMO market data: dispatch prices, generation mix, interconnector flows and market notices in the interval surrounding the event.