Mothballing logic, and reason?
Recent events in the NEM are causing me to wonder whether we've suspended logic, and reason, in charting a workable course through this energy transition?
Energy Transition
A large collection of articles pertaining to the ongoing ‘Energy Transition’ in any of a number of ways.
Specific sub-categories relate to such things as Coal Closure, and other aspects of the transition.
ESB releases Options Paper on post 2025 market design … is it a ‘NEM 2.0’ design to get us beyond 2040?
A quick note to alert our readers that the ESB has published an Options Paper today on the post 2025 Market Design (with submissions due Wed 9th June 2021).
The ‘Virtual Storage Product’ as a game-changing energy deal
Caroline Wykamp and Hydro Tasmania's wholesale team discuss the new 'virtual storage’ electricity swap contract that they have recently brokered with Renewable Energy Hub.
Ranking solar farm FCAS costs in the NEM in 2020
Following recent articles on spot market revenue earned by solar farms in the NEM in 2020, Marcelle takes a look at their FCAS costs.
Will your 10 out of 10 baseline be eligible?
A threshold for accuracy and threshold for bias has been set to evaluate whether a load’s baseline methodology is acceptable for the Wholesale Demand Response mechanism. Just prior to the publication of the Wholesale...
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...
Large-scale solar farm revenue in 2020 part 2 – considering LGCs
Marcelle extends last week's comparison of solar farm energy spot market revenue in 2020 by adding in an estimate of the LGC (green certificate) revenue.
Some of the early references and feedback we’ve received about the GSD2020
Valued team member, Daniel Lee, reviews some of the early references to, and compliments for, the Generator Statistical Digest 2020 - which was released about 7 weeks ago.
A Comparison of Large-Scale Solar Farm Revenue in 2020
Which solar farms performed best in 2020? Marcelle compares spot revenue performance across the NEM.
Down 55% – but not out
Over 2,000 MW – or around 55% – of South Australia’s firm supply capacity was unavailable last Friday evening (March 12, 2021), along with virtually all of its large-scale renewable supply (a further 1,800...
100% Renewables – A year in practice
Adam Clarke from The City of Newcastle local government publishes this detailed look at what operating on a 100% renewable electricity contract looks like in practice, a year on.
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, and some had been unexpectedly switching...
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.
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).
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...
What does the GSD2020 reveal, about the challenges facing the 12 x AGL coal-fired units
Guest author, Nick Bartels, follows on from his article last week to see what the GSD2020 can inform of the challenges AGL Energy is facing with Bayswater, Liddell and Loy Yang A coal-fired power...
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.
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 ...
Analysis of Large Thermals using the GSD2020
Guest author, Nick Bartels, compares calendar year results from GSD2020 to those in the earlier GSD2019 to explore how some thermal units in QLD and SA are changing operating patterns as part of the...