Prices for Lower Regulation FCAS elevated across the mainland Sunday afternoon 21st September 2025
A short article looking at some elevated prices for Regulation Lower FCAS on Sunday afternoon 21st September 2025
All Posts
A brief recap of a large afternoon frequency wobble on the NEM mainland on Saturday 20th September 2025
We noticed yesterday (Saturday 20th September 2025) a large afternoon dip in frequency down towards (but not outside) the limits of the NOFB - and briefly explore here.
A clean break: Wivenhoe and Swanbank operating profiles pre and post CleanCo takeover
Prompted by a presentation from CleanCo’s Rimu Nelson at the Queensland Energy Summit, Dan examines how operational and bidding patterns at Wivenhoe and Swanbank E have evolved since CleanCo assumed control in 2019.
Australian Government vows to cut its emissions by 62 to 70 per cent by 2035
On Thursday 18th September 2025, the much-awaited announcement has been made about our climate targets for 2035.
ESIG Report ‘Testing the Performance of Grid-Forming Resources’ released
Today we received notification from ESIG of the release of their report ‘Testing the Performance of Grid-Forming Resources’.
Belatedly highlighting the AEMO’s ‘Technical Review of the NEM Frequency Control Landscape’ from July 2025
Back in July 2025 we saw the AEMO had released this ‘Technical Review of the NEM Frequency Control Landscape’ … but are only noting this here now.
Oliver Nunn (from Endgame Analytics) illustrates how wind droughts are ‘a thing’
Returning for the second day of CEC QCES in the 'Long Duration Energy Storage' Oliver Nunn shared more insights from the Endgame modelling.
CleanCo modelled results of one scenario in a year late in the next decade
Flagging two charts that Rimu talked through to sum up some of the observations he made about some modelled results for some (unstated) year late in the next decade.
Changed operational profiles for Swanbank E and Wivenhoe (CleanCo assets)
From the CEC QCES 2025 was this pair of charts that Rimu Nelson (from CleanCo) presented to illustrate the vastly different operating profiles for Swanbank E and Wivenhoe pumped hydro.
Some snippets, from the ‘Long Duration Energy Storage’ session on day 2 of CEC QCES 2025
A short article to wrap up some of the content delivered in the Long Duration Energy Storage session at the CEC's QRES 2025.
Guest Authored Posts
The increasingly stochastic and volatile NEM
Oliver Nunn from Endgame Economics argues that we must begin to think about the distribution of prices in the NEM as a function of weather.
Not all renewable projects are created equal: Why approval times vary dramatically across Australia
Alice Matthews examines how approval times for renewables vary widely by state and technology — with NSW wind projects facing the longest delays.
Detailed Analysis
Examples of self-forecasting behaviours – part 2 – relative accuracy
The forecast differences would contribute to improved lower RMSE and MAE scores, relative to AWEFS_ASEFS, in the weekly performance assessment.
Examples of self-forecasting behaviours – part 1 – biasing
In today’s article (part 1 in this series) we present an example of biasing (at an unnamed solar farm), which we find aligns with FCAS cost mitigation.
Adoption and use of dispatch self-forecasting for solar units, Q1 2025
47% of dispatch intervals for semi-scheduled solar units are seeing a self-forecast used. When there are gaps, was the unit suppressed?
Is the price right? A historical exploration into the NEM’s price cap
Dan dives into the history of the NEM’s market cap and explores how high-end prices contribute to regional settlement costs and cap payouts.
Adoption and use of dispatch self-forecasting for wind units, Q1 2025
We summarise how wind units are using self-forecasting to-date. The analysis leads us to consider where upcoming market change may lead the industry.
Four days in the NEM in four minutes
Dan shares a short time-lapse video which demonstrates four days worth of activity in the NEM, highlighting the impact of network congestion in QLD and NSW.
How did Cyclone Alfred impact electricity demand?
By day-end on the Friday the 7th demand levels were down more than 40% in the Gold Coast. Other areas were also impacted.
Three headline observations, about the use of proxies for System Frequency in Frequency Control mechanisms
Various authors have shared articles about frequency, frequency control and Regulation FCAS in recent times (including 6 from Linton). Here's three things that jumped out to me in these pieces of analysis.