System Strength considerations for NSW via Market Notices … a low point reached in 2023 Q4
AEMO points to the TransGrid document from Wed 14th Feb 2024 ‘NSW Synchronous Generation – interim advice for System Normal requirement’.
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.
Convective downdrafts and high-voltage transmission lines
In light of another transmission tower collapse caused by convective wind gusts, we’ve invited wind loading expert Dr John Holmes to explain this phenomena.
A major blackout left 500,000 Victorian homes without power – but it shows our energy system is resilient
Dr Roger Dargaville from the Monash Energy Institute argues that Tuesday’s events in Victoria were a showing of a system resilience, and not fragility.
Some *initial* headline questions following the transmission damage, unit trips & loss of load, initiated on Tuesday 13th February 2024
What happened yesterday (Tue 13th Feb 2024) in Victoria was a significant event in the history of the NEM – and the flow on effects will be felt for weeks and months (even years?). Here’s a starting list of questions we’d like to explore…
A look into minimum generation levels at various coal plants, using the GSD2023
Nick Bartels from Greenview Strategic Consulting uses the GSD2023 to examine minimum and maximum generation levels at various coal and gas plants in the market.
Another tower collapse poses more questions about transmission
The sixth transmission tower failure within the NEM in almost four years, has prompted further questions about the physical network and its resilience to severe convective winds.
Engie announces early closure of two dispatchable South Australian power stations
It was an article in the AFR, on the 6th of February 2024, that drew our attention back to generator closures. Engie have announced the early closure of Snuggery and Port Lincoln Power Stations.
What is the point of the RRO?
Ben Skinner asks some philosophical questions about the Retail Reliability Obligation (RRO), and provides some commentary about its past and future.
First output at Tallawarra B
A brief record, using ez2view, of the very early output data for EnergyAustralia’s Tallawarra B station.
Policy implications now and for the transition
The third and final part of this series of articles from Greg Williams about opportunity costs in electricity markets – this time narrowing in on policy implications.
Clean Energy Finance analysis says Eraring does not need to be extended
A short article to note another view (this one from Clean Energy Finance) on whether Eraring can close in 2025.
Comments and questions about the 2024 draft ISP
Clutch’s Mitch Baker has shared his initial thoughts and questions that jumped out to him from reading the AEMO’s 2024 draft ISP.
Hiccups over, at Loy Yang A4? (Part 3)
This article (Part 3) follows on from Part 1 and Part 2, which looked at four successive trip/outage at Loy Yang A4 in recent days.
Hiccups continue, at Loy Yang A4 (Part 2)
Following the 4th successive trip/outage at Loy Yang A4 in recent days – and updating Tuesday’s earlier article.
The early wind farms reaching 20 years: how are they performing?
With Challicum Hills Wind Farm recently celebrating its 20th anniversary, Dan Lee takes a look into the long-term trend of technical and commercial performance of the oldest wind farms in the NEM.
What’s been happening at Stanwell unit 1 since September 2023? (Part 1)
Today we take a look back at the operation of Stanwell unit 1 over the past 3 years … but particularly since its return from a Major Outage in September 2023
Hiccups at Loy Yang A4 (Part 1)
A quick look at 3 successive trips at Loy Yang A4 in returning back from a recent forced outage.
Two (of four) Major Rectification Outages at Yallourn performed. Have they improved plant performance (Part 1)?
Remembering a question that were were asked by a client in December 2023 (about Yallourn power station) we take a quick look at the start of 2024.
Consultation on ‘Orderly Exit Management Framework Framework’ for coal units
A short article (day after release) about the proposed ‘Orderly Exit Management Framework’ for coal units
Generator Compliance Management – Is it the “monster under the bed”?
New guest author (Aditya Upadhye) posts some thoughts about Generator Compliance Management – especially in the light of AER’s stated priority of ‘improve market participants compliance with performance standards and standards for critical infrastructure’ in 2023-24.