Behind all the buzz about Solar PV…
Some thoughts about solar PV, and energy efficiency, and the effects they seem to be producing at home.
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.
Winter 2014 in the NEM
A collection of articles we write to record and explore some of the events and outcomes we see occurring through winter 2014.
Here’s one I can’t recall seeing before
My curiosity was piqued today when I saw the AEMO had lobbed in a Market Notice titled “Zero Regulation Dispatched”.
A few thoughts on the RET Review process
Some assorted thoughts about the RET, and the RET Review process currently underway
Full Disclosure 3 – a beneficiary of QLD’s 44c solar Feed-in-Tariff
Paul McArdle is one of approximately 400,000 beneficiaries of the Queensland Government’s 44c feed-in-tariff.
Full Disclosure 2 – Common beginnings of GLOBAL-ROAM and ROAM Consulting
Paul McArdle has had no involvement with ROAM Consulting for many years.
Full Disclosure 1 – fuel source agnostic
We try to remain agnostic to the technology used in energy supply
The role of wind today, in South Australia, with the LOR2 Market Notice issued
AEMO issues an LOR2 notice today for South Australia, noting of the possibility of load shedding in South Australia if a credible contingency occurs.
Spot price drops below zero in SA on a windy day with low demand
A drop in demand exacerbates low holiday demand and high wind to drop the price below zero in SA
… so the “Best Demand Forecasters” were, for Summer 2013-14
Who were the winners, in our competition for summer 2013-14?
Autumn 2014 in the NEM
Category to catch any posts we make pertaining to the shoulder season of autumn 2014.
Recapping where NEM-wide demand travelled over summer 2013-14
Recapping where demand trended over summer 2013-14 and (importantly for our competition entrants) what the peak demand was seen to be, NEM-wide
One left-of-field option for generator rationalisation
A thought-bubble, triggered by the recent knock-back at the ACCC of AGL’s bid to acquire Macquarie Generation
No, these were not spurious price spikes in Queensland today
Some quick observations about the patterns of volatility seen this week in Queensland
Summer’s not done yet – prices spike in humid Queensland
Hot and sticky weather in QLD drives demand higher and provides an opportunity for spot price volatility
South Australian electricity weathers blistering heat
Walking through today in South Australia, following yesterday’s warnings.
Brown coal production drops because of bushfires
Brown coal production drops as one outcome of the current bushfires around the Latrobe Valley
The evolving spark spread triggers change in Queensland
Quick preliminary thoughts on the reported mothballing of capacity at Swanbank E and the return of two units at Tarong.
Tropical Cyclone Dylan seems to have reduced demand in the “Northern” zone by about 50MW
A quick look at how much electricity demand has been reduced in the north, coincident with Tropical Cyclone Dylan
A hot, but windy, day in the south presents less challenge to the supply/demand balance
A quick look at how Victoria and South Australia fared on Tuesday 28th, given the predictions of a return to hot weather at a time when schools and businesses are back to work.