Wednesday 13th January 2021 was a busy day in the NEM, with a couple of different events occurring. In this article we explore a sudden and unexpected drop in output across both rooftop PV and large-scale solar in South Australia that delivered both price spikes, and also broader questions about emerging challenges for the grid (and market).
Today (Wed 13th Jan 2021) a high temperature alert published by AEMO for the Dalby area in southern QLD prompted a quick look at what the GSD2020 shows, in terms of high-temperature limitations of plant around the Dalby area.
A pretty rare event in the NEM, when two units trip simultaneously … so a short article on WattClarity as a result.
In the same week that the Energy Security Board publishes it’s ‘The Health of the NEM’ reports, looking from a top-down systems perspective, we crank the handle to produce the ‘Generator Statistical Digest 2020’ as a bottom-up 10-year review of the performance of all Scheduled, Semi-Scheduled and some Non-Scheduled generators and scheduled loads across the NEM that operated through some part of 2020.
Using an in-development (but soon to be released) widget in ez2view we take a look at forecast availability for coal units in NSW, VIC and QLD for the critical, and normally volatile, Q1 period 2021.
Short note about what might be a new record low point for electricity demand in Victoria on Christmas Day 2020.
As we wind down for Christmas, recapping some developments (in Nov and Dec 2020) about high temperature limitations on generation technology across the NEM.
An unfortunately timed significant slump in output across all Wind and Large Solar plant in NSW was another of the factors contributing to the price volatility seen in NSW last week.
Following a week where several days saw price volatility in NSW (with this being so extreme that Reserve Trader was triggered on Thursday 17th December) we’ve taken a look at the comparative performance of coal units across the NEM (and particularly in NSW) compared to prior years.
The publication by AGL Energy of the short note about the transformer incident (and injured worker) at Liddell unit 3 yesterday prompted me to have a quick look, following on from the volatility this week.
Third day in a row we see volatility in NSW (and QLD) … and this afternoon AEMO contracts, and then dispatches, Reserve Trader in NSW
Second day in a row the price spikes in the NSW region … higher and longer than yesterday. Low aggregate production from Wind and Large Solar across NSW today was clearly one other factor that contributed.
A quick look at a spike in NSW price this afternoon above $3,000/MWh due to a number of different factors … including a trip of unit 3 at Eraring coal-fired power station.
A recent development over in the WEM (paying energy users to consume, when there’s too much solar and wind) highlights the lack of foresight in the NEM … where we’ve implemented a significant reform (yet to start) that will do nothing to address negative prices.
Prompted by an SMS alert this evening, we take a look at the tight supply/demand balance currently forecast for the QLD region on Monday afternoon next week (30th Nov 2020).
From tomorrow (Fri 20th Nov) market participants in south-western NSW and north-western VIC will need to grapple with yet another transmission constraint seeking to ‘constraint down’ their output when it’s sunny and/or windy. This one is named ‘N^^N_NIL_3’.
Today (Thu 19th Nov 2020) the AEMC published a draft ruling following the AER request for a rule change relating to Semi-Scheduled generators … which itself followed from two COAG Energy Council requests to them
Some brief notes about the impact that South Australia’s ‘Stay at Home’ order might have on demand in the region.
Third day in a row, and at exactly the same time as yesterday (Mon 17th Nov) the dispatch price in QLD spiked through the roof. Here’s a quick first look…
It’s not officially summer, yet – but it sure seems like it is across QLD and NSW. High temperatures drive some prices spiking up to the Market Price Cap in both ENERGY and some FCAS commodities as well…