Bye X5, Hi X5
From 16th March 2023 the infamous 'x5 constraint' has been split into two. We quickly showed previously that the design of the Left Hand Side (LHS) does not vary. In today's article, valued guest...
constraint
Interconnector constraints and limits–an explainer, and a few traps
Limits on interconnectors play a key role in setting regional prices in the NEM. Marcelle finds a number of traps when interpreting the market data.
Transmission outage on ‘Ravine to Yass (2) 330kV line’ still ongoing
The ‘N-RVYS_2’ Constraint Set continues, with delays in the outage compared with expectations last week.
Demand response dispatched on January 31 2022 in Victoria
Recent WDR activity on January 31 took advantage of the spicy Victorian wholesale energy prices that eventuated in the late afternoon and early evening under unusual circumstances.
Initial look at System Strength constraints (curtailing north QLD Solar and Wind) in Event 3 on Tuesday 25th May 2021
We've started exploring the constraint data from the QLD region for back on Tuesday 25th May 2021 (with the Callide C4 catastrophe) and here's some initial information.
Solar Returns – ain’t what they used to be?
Guest author on WattClarity (but co-author of the Generator Statistical Digest 2020) uses the GSD2020 and numbers for preceding years to look at how some of the older solar farms are seeing some changes...
New Sources of Strength
Guest author Allan O'Neil puts together an in-depth explainer about system strength and looks at the current approach to system strength management in South Australia, its impacts and the imminent installation of synchronous condensers...
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 2020 - with a view to...
Highlights from the 2020 GSD
David Leitch highlights some themes that stuck out to him as he read through this year's edition of the Generator Statistical Digest - including a look at how batteries are dominating the FCAS market,...
Constraint Case Study Followup – Early outcomes of the new “X5 constraint”
On 25th November, guest author Allan O'Neil examined the 'X5 Constraint'. Two weeks of operation have passed, so now Allan reviews some of what's happened.
Case Study – How to interpret a new NEM constraint and guess what it might do
Given the great interest in the new 'X5 constraint', guest author, Allan O'Neil, has invested some time to pick the new constraint equation to understand (and then explain) what it is, how likely it...
More pain ahead for non-synchronous units … a bigger ‘rhombus of regret’ in western NSW & VIC
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...
Price spikes in QLD region third day in a row (Tue 17th Nov 2020)
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...
Case Study of 02:35 on Saturday 15th September 2018 (aggregate Raw Off-Target +355MW for Semi-Scheduled units)
This is the 11th Case Study in a series (looking at extreme outcomes of Aggregate Raw Off-Target for Semi-Sched units). We've rolled into 2018, now and (coincidence?) this one is much more complex than...
Surviving on the island – again
Another islanding event separated the SA region from the rest of the NEM yesterday (Monday, 2nd of March). Allan O'Neil investigates what happened before the event and possible causes.
How Good is Solar Farming?
Guest author, Allan O'Neil, takes a look, via the GSD2019 (released today), at the four different headwinds facing solar farm developers and operators operating in the NEM.
Five different aspects of assessing the “dependability” of coal-fired power (in the Generator Report Card)
The framework we used to analyse the extent to which coal-fired power is "dependable" in the Generator Report Card, and the extent to which it's been changing.
Number crunching begins, for Generator Report Card 2018 (such as with transmission constraints)
Data compilation of the Generator Report Card is underway, given we've stepped over into 2019. Here's a summary insight about the nature of coverage of bound constraint equations across all units in the NEM.
High temperatures (and high demand) forecast for QLD this Friday
A quick look at AEMO's current forecasts for Friday (prompted by a few conversations externally)...
AEMO updates generator combinations for SA system strength
AEMO has adjusted the formula (i.e. constraint equations) used to manage system strength in South Australia, which has been (since mid-2017) by constraining down the output of wind farms under certain conditions.