‘Market Demand’ drops 401MW in 5 minutes on Sunday 2nd March 2025
All I have time to do now is note another change greater than 400MW in a 5-minute period – this time in in Victoria to the 11:10 dispatch interval (NEM time) on Sunday 2nd...
Articles by Paul McArdle
Paul was one of the founders of Global-Roam in February 2000. He is currently the CEO of the company and the principal author of WattClarity. Writing for WattClarity has become a natural extension of his work in understanding the electricity market, enabling him to lead the team in developing better software for clients.
Before co-founding the company, Paul worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the Queensland Electricity Commission in the early 1990s. He also gained international experience in Japan, the United States, Canada, the UK, and Argentina as part of his ES Cornwall Memorial Scholarship.
AER wrote letters to Semi-Scheduled participants (and others) with respect to ‘Expectations surrounding the use of self-forecasting’
At the end of February 2025, the AER wrote to Semi-Scheduled generators, and other interested parties, warning of the AER’s concerns about self-forecasting practices.
Up, up and away … Market Price Cap to increase by $2,800/MWh (or 16%)
The AEMC has announced that the Market Price Cap will increase to $20,300/MWh from 1st July 2025. Should we be so surprised?
Is VRE forecastable? (Part 1 in what might be a series)
Over many years we've invested deeply in analysing the nuanced answer to the question 'Is VRE Forecastable?'. This article (which has almost been posted many times before) is triggered today by yet one more...
What’s happened to those Semi-Scheduled units registered to provide FCAS?
Following a question from a client today, we take a quick look at (some of) what the GSD2024 reveals of FCAS market participation of Semi-Scheduled units.
Curtailment at New England Solar Farm – Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd February 2025
A question from a client led me to take a (very quick) look at curtailment over the recent weekend (Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February 2025) at New England Solar Farm 2 ... with...
Pronounced ramp in ‘Market Demand’, then subsidence, in South Australia on Saturday 22nd February 2025
Recording a ~500MW ramp and subsidence in ‘Market Demand’ in South Australia on Saturday 22nd February 2025 (including a drop of 229MW in 5 minutes).
A closer look at NEM Mainland Frequency (at 100ms cadence) on Thursday afternoon 13th February 2025 (i.e. Part 2)
Some recent questions prompted this more granular look at NEM Mainland Frequency on Thursday afternoon 13th February 2025
A curious case of UIGF for Hamilton Solar Farm on Wednesday 12th February 2025 (Part1)
Here's a first look at (generating lots of questions about) Hamilton Solar Farm, and particularly the Availability forecast, back on Wednesday 12th February 2025.
Large (+405MW) jump in ‘Market Demand’ in NSW on Thursday 20th February 2025
A second article for Thursday 20th February 2025 looking at a noticeable jump in 'Market Demand' in NSW
A curious case of some ‘rogue’ sky-high P5 price forecasts for NSW on Thursday 20th February 2025
A short (and perhaps cryptic, or perhaps useful) initial look at some (what might appear to some) 'rogue' price forecasts in P5 predispatch for the NSW region on Thursday 20th February 2025.
AER published ‘Semi-Scheduled Generator Compliance Bulletin’ on Tuesday 4th February 2025
Two weeks after the AER published its updated Compliance Bulletin (and Compliance Checklist) for Semi-Scheduled units, we've finally found time to note about it.
Second big drop in ‘Market Demand’ in NSW on Wednesday 19th February 2025
About 150 minutes after the earlier (apparent) drop in NSW 'Market Demand' there's a second drop that's not quite so big, but still sizeable.
Callide B2 (apparent) trip early on Wednesday morning 19th February 2025
Whilst looking at system frequency, there was an apparent trip of the Callide B2 unit in the early hours of Wednesday morning 19th February 2025.
741MW (apparent?) drop in ‘Market Demand’ in NSW on Wednesday midday 19th February 2025
That alert in ‘Notifications’ widget in ez2view (looking at large change in 'Market Demand' in NSW) has triggered again at 11:51 (NEM time) on Wednesday 19th February 2025.
Large instantaneous jump in ‘Market Demand’ in NSW on Tuesday afternoon 18th February 2025
A relatively large jump in 'Market Demand' in the NSW region from 16:05 to 16:10 on Tuesday 18th February 2025 caught our attention.
Reviewing LGC creation at Codrington Wind Farm over ~24 years
With the news that Codrington Wind Farm (one of the first in the NEM) is to be closed, we take a quick look at 24 years of history.
Curtailment of Large Solar reaches ~72% (NEM-wide) on Sunday 16th February 2025
Given the situation that unfolded on Sunday 16th February 2025, we take a look at curtailment of Large Solar production (not quite a record).
New lowest-ever* point for NSW ‘Market Demand’ on Sunday 16th Feb 2025 was lower than AEMO’s earlier forecasts
Second article pertaining to the remarkably low level of 'Market Demand' in NSW on Sunday 16th February 2025.
‘Lowest ever*’ point for ‘Market Demand’ in NSW crashes lower, on Sunday 16th February 2025
The bottom has dropped out of the 'record minimum demand' point for NSW on Sunday 16th February 2025.