South Australians urged to accept power blackouts

Thursday 23 July 2026

South Australia offers a glimpse into the energy future facing Australia.

South Australia is the Australian mainland’s leader in renewable energy, with the highest penetration of wind and solar generation in the country.

South Australia closed its last coal-fired power plant in 2016 and now generates more than three-quarters of its electricity from wind and solar.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.