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).
Records continue to tumble in the off-season, with the rise of rooftop PV. Both South Australia and Whole-of-NEM hit new low points Sun 11th October 2020.
A month on from the prior low point seen for Scheduled Demand (and Operational Demand) across Queensland in the middle of the day, the low point mark is driven lower still on Sunday 27th September 2020.
Hot on the heels of a new record low point for Scheduled Demand (a week ago) in VIC, today sees Scheduled Demand in SA plunge to 315MW in the 11:50 dispatch interval on Sunday 13th September 2020.
Some quick reflections on a day that saw spot prices in QLD down below $0/MWh for most of the period seeing strong daylight hours, hence strong injections from rooftop PV systems.
Analysis compiled to explore what the impact was of the unusual weather pattern (extensive cloud cover and cold temperatures) seen across a large part of Queensland on Saturday 23rd May 2020.
… because the evidence currently suggests that this is just not the case (in this article I explore and explain further)