National Electricity Market

Wholesale power prices are falling fast – but consumers will have to wait for relief. Here’s why

Retrieved on:

水曜日, 2月 7, 2024

Coalition, Pressure, Coal, Wind, Government, News, Politics, Safety, Investment, Federation, National Electricity Market, Big stick ideology, Electricity, Renewable energy

Wholesale power prices are falling steeply in Australia, following two years of surging prices after the Ukraine war triggered an energy crisis.

Key Points:

Wholesale power prices are falling steeply in Australia, following two years of surging prices after the Ukraine war triggered an energy crisis.
New data shows annualised spot prices for power in Australia’s main grid fell by about 50% in 2023.
Energy retailers buy most of their power in advance at set prices, accepting higher average prices for less volatility.

How is power priced?

The state or territory government runs the power system, and prices are set by a regulator.
Here, retailers buy power on the wholesale spot market from generators and compete for your business by offering different prices and bundling electricity with other services such as gas or broadband.
Default offers were intended as a fair price for power and to work as a safety net so consumers weren’t overcharged.
Nearly all of us have now signed up for market offers, leaving fewer than 10% of consumers still on a default offer.

Competing retailers tend to mirror changes to the default offers in their market offers.
That means most, if not all, consumers should start seeing lower default prices reflected in their bills from this date onwards.

Ironing out fluctuations

Prices can be as low as negative A$1,000 per megawatt hour or as high as +$16,000 a megawatt hour if there are outages or intense demand during a heatwave.
Retail prices, including default offers, will respond to changes in wholesale prices when those changes are reflected in the retailers’ contract prices.

What about politics?

At present, the Albanese government is under real pressure over the cost of living.
Successive interest rate rises and more expensive petrol and groceries have left many of us feeling poorer.
After all, governments have given regulators a difficult job to do: deliver fair prices in a rapidly evolving electricity market.
It would be better for the long-term interests of consumers and energy suppliers if they were allowed to get on with it.

What’s next?

But the energy transition isn’t as simple as substituting solar and wind for coal.
Big investments in transmission and energy storage are needed to connect more renewables and maintain a reliable system.

Tony Wood may have interests in companies impacted by the energy transition through his superannuation fund.

Akaysha, Powin and eks Energy Celebrate GPS Approval for Ulinda Park

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水曜日, 12月 20, 2023

Environment, Technology, Batteries, Alternative Energy, Green Technology, Energy, Software, Aurecon, Multimedia, OEM, GPS, AEMO, National Electricity Market, Powerlink, Senior

Akaysha Energy, in collaboration with Powin, is thrilled to announce that the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has received Generator Performance Standard (GPS) 5.3.4a/b approval for Ulinda Park, a groundbreaking 155MW/300MWh battery energy storage project situated in Queensland’s Western Downs region.

Key Points:

Akaysha Energy, in collaboration with Powin, is thrilled to announce that the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has received Generator Performance Standard (GPS) 5.3.4a/b approval for Ulinda Park, a groundbreaking 155MW/300MWh battery energy storage project situated in Queensland’s Western Downs region.
The GPS approval, a pivotal and complex milestone for any generation project in Australia, marks a significant step for Powin and Akaysha to enter the burgeoning Australian energy storage market.
View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231220211301/en/
Akaysha, Powin and eks Energy celebrate GPS approval for Australian project.
(Photo: Business Wire)
Akaysha Energy selected Powin as their battery energy storage supplier, leveraging eks Energy’s power conversion system and power plant controller.

Enphase Energy Launches IQ EV Chargers in the United States and Canada

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木曜日, 10月 19, 2023

Solar energy, Ampere, Weather, EV, ENPH, J1772, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Electricity Market, Electricity, NEMA, IQ, Safety, EVS, ETL, Electric battery, Enphase Energy, Wi-Fi

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today the availability of the Enphase® IQ EV Charger in the United States and Canada.

Key Points:

FREMONT, Calif., Oct. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today the availability of the Enphase® IQ EV Charger in the United States and Canada.
The IQ EV Charger will enable the following new features:
Control and monitor EV charging from the Enphase App.
Homeowners with Enphase Energy Systems can direct the renewable solar energy they generate on their roof or store in their battery to charge their EV.
North American consumers can now buy the Enphase IQ EV Charger directly from the Enphase Store .

EQS-News: PATRIZIA closes debut investment for A-SIF with initial AUD 70 million Australian renewables deal

Retrieved on:

火曜日, 10月 17, 2023

The deal marks the debut investment for A-SIF, which is a joint venture between PATRIZIA and Mitsui.

Key Points:

The deal marks the debut investment for A-SIF, which is a joint venture between PATRIZIA and Mitsui.
The investment in YES Group will ensure the strategy is implemented by an experienced and established operational team.
Saji Anantakrishnan, Head of Infrastructure for Australia and Asia at PATRIZIA, said: “Decarbonisation and climate change are two core megatrends that underpin our global investment philosophy at PATRIZIA.
With operations around the world, PATRIZIA has been offering investment opportunities in real estate and infrastructure assets for institutional, semi-professional and private investors for 39 years.

Powerlink Queensland Selects Ribbon's IP Wave Solutions to Transform Operational Network

Retrieved on:

水曜日, 7月 19, 2023

Ribbon Communications, National Electricity Market, NPT, NEM, Network monitoring, Environment, IP, NMS, Powerlink, Public utility, Ribbon

PLANO, Texas, July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global provider of real time communications technology and IP Optical networking solutions to many of the world's largest service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators to modernize and protect their networks, today announced that Powerlink, the electrical transmission grid operator in the Australian state of Queensland, has selected Ribbon to help modernize its statewide operational network. Part of Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM), Powerlink's network extends 1,700 km (1,055 miles), with 15,000 km (9,300 miles) of transmission lines.

Key Points:

Part of Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM), Powerlink's network extends 1,700 km (1,055 miles), with 15,000 km (9,300 miles) of transmission lines.
Powerlink is utilizing Ribbon's NPT family of routers to build a robust and protected internal communications network, as well as Ribbon's industry-leading LightSoft .
Intuitive and easy to use, LightSoft provides unified multi-layer, end-to-end network management via a simple point and click interface.
"Powerlink is recognized for its ability to deliver critical infrastructure and electrical transmission services in Queensland," said Mickey Wilf, Managing Director APAC and Africa, Ribbon.

Using electric water heaters to store renewable energy could do the work of 2 million home batteries – and save us billions

Retrieved on:

日曜日, 6月 4, 2023

Wind, Technology, National Electricity Market, Electricity, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, AEMO, ARENA, Research, Water, Atmosphere, Carbon, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Tesla Powerwall, Natural gas, Renewable energy, Kerosene, Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

But as we work towards fully electric households powered by renewable energy, have we overlooked a key enabling technology, the humble electric water heater?

Key Points:

But as we work towards fully electric households powered by renewable energy, have we overlooked a key enabling technology, the humble electric water heater?
About half of Australian households use electric water heaters, while the rest use gas.
Electric water heaters offer a cheap way to store large amounts of energy, in the form of hot water.
Our research at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures has found Australians could use household electric water heaters to store as much energy as over 2 million home batteries of that kind.

Cutting emissions

Back in 2010, a resistance electric water heater typically produced around four times more emissions than its gas equivalent.
Heat pump emissions were about the same as for gas.
By 2040, once the transition to a renewable electricity system is largely complete, emissions from resistance and heat pump water heaters will be much lower than for their gas counterparts.
We found that replacing gas with electric water heating would not only help us get to net-zero emissions sooner, it would save us money.

Boosting grid stability

But to maintain a stable electricity system, we need to match demand with the fluctuating supply from renewable sources.
Electric water heaters offer a much cheaper way to store large amounts of energy and provide the demand flexibility the grid needs.

Back to the future for water heating

In recent decades we’ve moved away from off-peak electric hot water, as incentives dwindled and more homes connected to natural gas.
As we electrify our hot water, which technology should we embrace: resistance or heat pump?
Our research explored the trade-off between highly flexible resistance water heaters versus highly efficient but less flexible heat pumps.

Think of solar panels more like apple trees – we need a fairer approach for what we use and sell

Retrieved on:

金曜日, 6月 2, 2023

People, National Electricity Market, Industry, Food safety, Electricity, Rights, Research, Government, AEMO, Australian Energy Market Operator, Time, Energy market, Solar energy, Renewable energy, Music, Electric motor, Asset management

When solar panels generate more energy than a household is using, the excess electricity can be exported to the grid.

Key Points:

When solar panels generate more energy than a household is using, the excess electricity can be exported to the grid.
Rooftop solar regularly provides more than a quarter of daytime electricity across the National Electricity Market.
The measures in place are costing households that are generating solar power, but also non-solar owners and network operators.
We suggest solar panels should be thought of a little more like apple trees.

What’s not fair about the current system?

Other mechanisms are also being put in place to allow AEMO to occasionally curtail output from rooftop solar to maintain power system security.
However, such measures not only reduce how much electricity is flowing from a home to the grid, but the entire output of the home’s rooftop system.
Nor is it fair for distribution businesses to build more poles and wires to accommodate everyone’s solar exports all the time.
Or if the system operator has to buy more reserves to cover for the uncertainties of rooftop solar output.

It’s time to rethink the social contract for grid electricity

How should households with these growing distributed energy resources interact with the grid in future?
We reckon the social contract for grid electricity needs to evolve from the pay-plug-play expectations dating from the 19th century to a two-way engagement to support fairness for all.
Apples aren’t an essential service, apple trucks aren’t a regulated monopoly, and the supply and demand of apples doesn’t need to be balanced every second.
However, the principles remain – especially for a future where apple trees (rooftop solar) and apple warehouses (home batteries and electric vehicles) are everywhere.

A fairer balance of rights and responsibilities

In our research paper we distinguish between rights for passive use (using your own rooftop solar electricity) and responsibilities for active use (selling electricity).
We have an opportunity now to make it work better and be fairer for all of us.
You can see a summary of the DER Bill of Rights and Responsibilities here.

Brookfield and EIG Consortium Sign Binding Agreement to Acquire Origin Energy

Retrieved on:

月曜日, 3月 27, 2023

SYDNEY, Australia and TORONTO and WASHINGTON D.C., March 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A consortium comprised of Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP, BEPC; TSX: BEP.UN, BEPC), together with its institutional partners and global institutional investors GIC and Temasek (“Brookfield”), and MidOcean Energy (“MidOcean”), an LNG company formed and managed by EIG, a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors, has entered into a Scheme Implementation Deed with Origin Energy Limited (“Origin” or “the company”) (ASX: ORG) to acquire 100% of the company’s shares (“Scheme").

Key Points:

MidOcean Energy is an EIG-formed ‘pure-play’ LNG company that will acquire Origin’s Integrated Gas business, which includes the interest in APLNG.
Upon closing of the transaction, Brookfield, its institutional partners and investors will own Origin’s Energy Markets business, Australia’s largest integrated power generator and energy retailer.
EIG is among the largest specialist investors in energy and infrastructure globally and has had an established presence in Australia since 2000.
Brookfield and EIG view Origin as critical to Australia’s energy transition and energy security.

A View of the Rapidly Growing Australian BESS Market , Reports IDTechEx

Retrieved on:

火曜日, 2月 14, 2023

Initiative, Polarium, Electricity, NEM, BESS, NBI, C&I, National Electricity Market, Growth, FTM, BTM, Electric battery, Renewable energy, Rail transport, Victorian

This will promote domestic business opportunities for the supply of battery components, assist in the growing demand of Australian large-scale batteries, and complement residential battery demand.

Key Points:

This will promote domestic business opportunities for the supply of battery components, assist in the growing demand of Australian large-scale batteries, and complement residential battery demand.
IDTechEx expects these countries with battery storage targets to continue deploying large BESS at a growing rate.
With greater coal phase-out and improved market conditions, Australia's FTM market would flourish more so than in the current circumstances.
The report also includes regulatory landscapes, residential market analysis, business models and revenue streams, technologies in energy storage, and more.

A View of the Rapidly Growing Australian BESS Market , Reports IDTechEx

Retrieved on:

火曜日, 2月 14, 2023

Initiative, Polarium, Electricity, NEM, BESS, NBI, C&I, National Electricity Market, Growth, FTM, BTM, Electric battery, Renewable energy, Rail transport, Victorian

This will promote domestic business opportunities for the supply of battery components, assist in the growing demand of Australian large-scale batteries, and complement residential battery demand.

Key Points:

This will promote domestic business opportunities for the supply of battery components, assist in the growing demand of Australian large-scale batteries, and complement residential battery demand.
IDTechEx expects these countries with battery storage targets to continue deploying large BESS at a growing rate.
With greater coal phase-out and improved market conditions, Australia's FTM market would flourish more so than in the current circumstances.
The report also includes regulatory landscapes, residential market analysis, business models and revenue streams, technologies in energy storage, and more.