Energy Transition
A collection of articles about this energy transition
Summer 2017-18 in the NEM
Articles pertaining to summer 2017-18 in the NEM
Spring 2017 in the NEM
Articles pertaining to spring 2017 (Sept, Oct, Nov) in the NEM
Energy Literacy
This is a category of articles that have been accumulating on WattClarity for some time, aimed at helping to tame Villain #4, which is what we see as a growing deficit in Energy Literacy/Numeracy required to effectively deal with the…
Cost Confusion
Our guest author, Allan O’Neil, posts an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of an increasingly popular metric – the LCOE (or Levellised Cost of Energy)
Here’s three big reasons why spot prices in Queensland are higher than they used to be
A quick outline of what have been (in my view) the three key reasons why wholesale electricity prices in Queensland have risen, compared to 5 years ago.
The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) contributes to recent wind drought
An explanation of how the Southern Annular Mode (SAM) contributed to the wind drought we observed recently on WattClarity.
If spot price outcomes through Q2 2016 were “truly remarkable” then price outcomes for Q2 2017 were off the chart
A year on from my review of “remarkable” prices seen in Q2 2016, I return to the same analysis and update for Q2 2017. Outcomes are even more extreme…
Where’s the wind gone? NEM-wide wind farm operation lowest in 5 years (maybe ever, on like-for-like basis?)
A brief look, in the time available today, at a truly remarkable low point in aggregate wind farm output across the NEM through June 2017
Another industrial energy user enters Liquidation (in South Australia this time)
Coming back from a week out of the office, I was disconcerted to see that yet another industrial energy user has closed its doors.
Package of “reduce electricity prices in QLD” measures seen to reduce hedge contract prices
A quick look at how the wholesale contracts market reacted to the announced bundle of measures by the Queensland Government, aimed at reducing the cost of electricity to energy users.
Winter 2017 in the NEM
A collection of articles posted about Winter 2017 in the NEM
Energy Supply Disruption – Understand the Customer Drivers
The energy supply industry is now a case study of major disruption and this is causing chaos. We are now witnessing the simultaneous high prices in electricity and gas – importantly at the commodity level – not network driven this time – although that just changed with the AER loss – more petrol on the fire.
The ‘Finkel Review’ released on 1st June 2017
A belated link to the Finkel Review.
2 x Loy Yang A units offline this afternoon
Two units temporarily offline at Loy Yang A on Monday 8th May (not without coincidence/conspiracy theories)
Warnings of load shedding in Victoria and South Australia on Thursday 11th May, and larger on Monday 15th May
Autumn 2017 continues the very rocky experience that’s become “new normal” for the National Electricity Market – with warnings of load shedding for Victoria and South Australia this week and next
More trouble brewing at Loy Yang A power station – with strike action called
A quick look at the market, following announcement of industrial action next week at Loy Yang A power station
More about wind output and AEMO’s intervention in South Australia 25-26 April
A closer look at AEMO’s actions during a period of high windfarm output in SA last week
Aggregate rate of wind production across South Australia breaks the all-time record
New record rate of wind power production in South Australia reached towards midnight at the end of Tuesday 25th April
Aggregate Wind Farm output across South Australia topped 1,400MW for the first time – on 9th April, with more to come
Total wind output (aggregated across all wind farms in South Australia) established a new record on Sunday 9th April.