SA's statewide blackout was 10 years ago — but electricity debate is still live
Energy policy has changed greatly since South Australia was left in darkness exactly 10 years ago today — but if there is a universal constant of the energy debate, it is that there is always friction over electricity.
On a tempestuous spring afternoon ten years ago, South Australia experienced a statewide blackout that left more than 850,000 properties and approximately 1.7 million residents without electricity. Labor MP Tom Koutsantonis, then the state's minister for energy, vividly recalls the moment when the blackout began as he was moving legislation in the parliament.
The blackout was triggered by a combination of factors, including a massive storm brewing in South Australia, tornadoes with wind speeds ranging between 190 and 260 km/h, and power reduction in wind farms due to overly sensitive protection mechanisms. The economic impact of the blackout was estimated to cost businesses over $360 million, with significant consequences for businesses and prospective parents at medical centers.
While the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) concluded that the blackout was caused by the activation of protection features in wind farms, others argue that the extreme weather and insufficient preparation for a one-in-50-year storm were primary culprits. A decade after the blackout, the question remains whether such an event could happen again, and what measures can be taken to prevent it.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
