Household solar uptake meant demand on Australia’s grid in summer peak fell to five-year low

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Pressure on the national electricity grid at the peak of last summer's heat fell to its lowest level in five years due to the rising influence of household solar panels, a new analysis has found.

Summer is usually the time of greatest strain on the electricity system due to the widespread use of energy hungry air-conditioners, but the demand on the hottest day dipped this year as more electricity came from decentralised rooftop solar systems, which sit outside the grid.