Renewables 'not to blame' for South Australia blackout, but energy debate rages

Amy Reimiskis reports on
the two storms happening
in South Australia.

The storm – both real and political – continues to rage over South Australia, with federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg conceding initial inquiries found renewable energy was not to blame for last week's statewide blackout, while refusing to back down from attacks on "aggressive" state Labor renewable energy targets.

With South Australia preparing for more flooding as it deals with the fallout from Wednesday's unprecedented storm, debate is still raging over what caused the power blackout, which left thousands of people still without power four days later.

Mr Frydenberg told Sky News on Sunday that while preliminary investigations showed the state's increasing reliance on renewable energy was not at fault for the blackout, it was time to discuss "aggressive" renewable targets set by Labor states. Such targets could not take precedence over energy security, he said.

It is a topic set to dominate conversations at this Friday's emergency Council of Australian Governments meeting between Mr Frydenberg and state and territory energy ministers.

Read the story in today’s Melbourne Age by Amy Reimiskis - “Renewables 'not to blame' for South Australia blackout, but energy debate rages.”