Renewables output grows fast in Oz

Generation from renewables now exceeds generation from brown coal (lignite).  This is good news—lignite is the most polluting fossil fuel relative to the electricity it generates.  In all charts, the dark yellow/tan represents rooftop solar.  Utility-scale solar has only started to pick up in recent years.

 Renewables output substantially exceeds output from gas power stations.  The argument from opponents of renewables is that we'll need lots of gas backup to allow for the variability of wind and solar output.  Doesn't seem to be the case, though, does it?

Black coal remains strong.  This is partly because NSW, Oz's most populous state, has been run by conservatives, who have a demented coal fetish, whereas Victoria (which is powered by brown coal) has been rapidly rolling out renewables. 

The charts come from Dylan McConnell.