Australia’s transition to low-carbon energy has been complicated by a third-straight quarterly increase in coal power generation, buffeted by a smaller contribution from large-scale solar farms as they are edged out of the grid by households.

The figures from the University of NSW confirm the extent of curtailment at solar farms amid soaring rooftop solar generation, with the drop in output from large-scale solar plants detected despite their increased capacity, measured year-on-year. Wholesale power prices increased over the same time frame.