August Update: Regulatory Responses to Pricing Concern
Some thoughts from guest author, Connor James, about "what's next" in response to energy user concerns about high and escalating prices.
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Cloud patterns on Friday 19th May 2017 – leading to a day of low Solar PV output, NEM-wide
Following Wednesday's article by Paul McArdle on WattClarity, we've reviewed the (very cloudy) weather patterns for Friday 19th May 2017, and the accuracy of Solcast's predictions of a...
A solar eclipse is just one type of a larger class of challenge with solar PV
Some thoughts about challenges with intermittent solar PV, triggered by this week's Solar Eclipse in North America
Energy Users as the “victim” in the train wreck that’s unfolding before our eyes
A few thoughts about how energy users (including each of us) are the main victims in the unfolding train wreck that's become of this energy transition off the...
[In the NEM, at least] Business consumption of electricity dwarfs residential consumption of electricity
AEMO data for the National Electricity Market shows business consumption of electricity is more than twice that of residential consumption of electricity
Wind Farm output in SA constrained, again, by AEMO’s “System Strength” constraint
A quick note about high wind speeds in South Australia this afternoon leading to AEMO constraining wind farm output down for System Strength reasons.
Energy prices below zero in South Australia, but Raise Regulation FCAS prices through the roof
Low energy prices in South Australia combined with high prices for Raise Regulation
ACCC chief, Rod Sims, includes 6 factors driving retail electricity prices higher
A timely reminder from Rod Sims (at the ACCC) this week that there are a number of factors driving electricity price higher - not just a single "smoking...
Forecast, of sorts, for the National Electricity Market – Train Wreck upon us?
An energy crisis (like a train wreck) is upon us.
Energy Transition
A collection of articles about this energy transition
Summer 2017-18 in the NEM
Articles pertaining to summer 2017-18 in the NEM
Spring 2017 in the NEM
Articles pertaining to spring 2017 (Sept, Oct, Nov) in the NEM
Energy Literacy
This is a category of articles that have been accumulating on WattClarity for some time, aimed at helping to tame Villain #4, which is what we see as...
Cost Confusion
Our guest author, Allan O'Neil, posts an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of an increasingly popular metric - the LCOE (or Levellised Cost of Energy)
Here’s three big reasons why spot prices in Queensland are higher than they used to be
A quick outline of what have been (in my view) the three key reasons why wholesale electricity prices in Queensland have risen, compared to 5 years ago.
The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) contributes to recent wind drought
An explanation of how the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) contributed to the wind drought we observed recently on WattClarity.
If spot price outcomes through Q2 2016 were “truly remarkable” then price outcomes for Q2 2017 were off the chart
A year on from my review of "remarkable" prices seen in Q2 2016, I return to the same analysis and update for Q2 2017. Outcomes are even more...
Where’s the wind gone? NEM-wide wind farm operation lowest in 5 years (maybe ever, on like-for-like basis?)
A brief look, in the time available today, at a truly remarkable low point in aggregate wind farm output across the NEM through June 2017
Another industrial energy user enters Liquidation (in South Australia this time)
Coming back from a week out of the office, I was disconcerted to see that yet another industrial energy user has closed its doors.
Package of “reduce electricity prices in QLD” measures seen to reduce hedge contract prices
A quick look at how the wholesale contracts market reacted to the announced bundle of measures by the Queensland Government, aimed at reducing the cost of electricity to...