Another QLD dispatch price spike as the sun sets (today on Sun 14th March 2021)
In what's become a fairly regular occurrence the past couple months, the price spiked in QLD for a single dispatch interval as the sun was setting.
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.
Repair work on Heywood continues to affect South Australian region
A different type of market notice today (speaking of potential curtailment of embedded generation in South Australia) points to the future ... accelerated by Heywood repairs in this...
$15,000/MWh in South Australia on Friday 12th March 2021 … part 3 (quick thought to the future)
A shorter article - thinking more about the future, prompted by one of the factors that contributed to the price volatility seen in South Australia on Friday 12th...
$15,000/MWh in South Australia on Friday 12th March 2021 … part 2 (what seems to have happened)
Prices have (finally!) subsided, so here's an initial review of what I can see about what happened in South Australia on Friday evening 12th March 2021. Apologies for...
Price spikes to $15,000/MWh in South Australia on Friday 12th March 2021 … part 1
The price has spiked in South Australia this evening (Fri 12th March 2021). Here's Part 1...
AEMC publishes Rule Determination on Semi-Scheduled Generators
This morning the AEMC has published its final rule focused on clarifying how Semi-Scheduled generators should follow dispatch targets - including in dispatch intervals where prices are negative,...
Confidential ‘safety net’ agreement stuck between the Victorian Government and Yallourn Power Station to keep power station operational to mid 2028
A brief (and back-dated) article pointing to the confidential “safety net” agreement struck between the VIC Govt and EnergyAustralia to keep Yallourn Power Station operational until mid-2028.
AEMO publishes Market Notice 83206 – status update on repair to damaged Heywood transmission line
AEMO Market Notice 83206 today notifies the broader market of the rectification work on the Heywood transmission (damaged 13 months ago) to be conducted from Friday morning this...
Next domino? Yallourn closing in 2028 … four years earlier than original plan.
Two initial thoughts, following EnergyAustralia's announcement that they will close Yallourn Power Station four years earlier than initially planned (mid-2028).
Marcelle Gannon to share insights (this Thu 11th March 2021) at CEC Large-Scale Solar Forum
Here's three key insights to listen for this Thursday ... when Marcelle Gannon speaks at the CEC's Large-Scale Solar (virtual) Forum.
Will the traditional ‘Peak’ contract be another casualty of this Energy Transition?
Prompted by several different conversations offline in early 2021, I've taken a quick look at what have been traded volumes (on ASX) of the traditional 'PEAK' hedge contract...
Report ‘Fast Erosion of Coal Plant Profits’ prompts questions
A report released this week by Green Energy Markets and the IEEFA exploring the prospect of accelerated coal closures, has itself caused some ripples...
High temperatures drive QLD Scheduled Demand to 9,476MW (highest this summer, so far)
Monday 22nd February 2021 saw QLD Scheduled Demand rise higher than it has on any other day so far this summer ... 576MW below the all-time maximum.
The accelerating rise of Negative Prices in the NEM
A longer-term trend of the incidence of negative prices across each region of the NEM ... and, most interestingly, the pattern by time of day.
Reflections (from afar) on the electricity shortages and load shedding in Texas
Watching what's unfolded in Texas over the past 24 hours has been rather disconcerting ... but also prompted questions about the broader energy transition. Here are some thoughts.
Low demand experienced in SA on Sunday 14th February 2021
Today (Sunday 14th February 2021) 'Scheduled Demand' dropped down again in South Australia - almost setting a new record for 'lowest point since the start of the NEM...
Victoria’s snap lockdown drops demand forecast by ~1000MW
In the middle of the day today (Fri 12th Feb) VIC Premier Dan Andrews announced a snap lockdown - here's a quick look at how this was (quickly)...
Pain at AGL Energy … part 2
Following last week's ASX & Media Release, this week's half-year results presented by AGL Energy has more questions being asked. Here are some ...
AEMO publishes Handbook for Wind and Solar Generators
As promised in the Intermittent Generation Forum late in 2020, the AEMO has released an important Handbook for operators of Semi-Scheduled (wind and solar) assets.
Which units were most impacted by constraints in 2020?
In this (lengthy) article today, Paul McArdle uses the newly released GSD2020 to take a look at the units that were most frequently impacted by constraints during calendar...