Noting the new “Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism” being proposed in South Australia

I first noticed this development via Giles article ‘South Australia may underwrite gas generators in new plan to back up 100 pct net renewables target’ of Wednesday 20th November, but it turns out it’s also covered elsewhere as well

… such as by Colin Packham with ‘South Australia floats use of gas to underpin power grid’ in the Australian on 21st November

Given that we’d previously written ‘Are we *still* not building enough replacement Firming Capacity?’ as recently as August 2024, following the article ‘We’re not building enough replacement dispatchable capacity’ in May 2023, we think it’s worth highlighting this development in South Australia.  It seems (at high level at least*) a sensible development that might be one step in overcoming the ideological but illogical exclusion of gas from the broader Capacity Investment Scheme.

 * noting that I’ve not read the design paper, at this point.

Giles’ article helpfully provides a link to the ‘Have your Say on the Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism’ page from the South Australian Government, with the key points being:

1)  Submissions are due by Friday 20th December 2024; and

2)  There’s a live online information session next Monday 25th November 13:00-14:30… presumably Adelaide time)

3)  With the 56-page Proposed Scheme Design Consultation Paper linked:

So … happy reading, everyone!