AEMO says 70TWh of coal is to retire by 2040, and the cheapest way to replace it is with solar, wind and storage, and just a tiny bit of gas. And no coal. But it wants more transmission lines and renewable zones to manage this transition.
South Australia government hails success of trials of first phase of Tesla virtual power plant, saying it resulted in lower prices and greater grid security. It now seems disposed to roll-out the full 250MW planned, as well as its own plans for battery storage grants.
Tesla says unprecedented chaos in South Australia’s electricity market on Monday highlights need for quick shift to 5-minute settlement. Coalition predictably blames renewables, while ACCC waves its hands and says price gouging is perfectly legal.
This has been the story of Australia’s energy market for more than a decade. Almost every report done by a statutory authority has refused to contemplate what a decarbonised grid might look like. Sims falls into the same trap.
The biggest threat to Australia’s legacy coal fired generators is not the explosion of wind and solar farms, or even the settings of the country’s emissions policy: Right now, it’s the continued boom in rooftop solar.
UPDATED: Regional Queensland network operator rolls out technology to allow more rooftop solar power to be exported to the grid, without disrupting supply.
ACT energy minister Shane Rattenbury says Territory under “enormous pressure” to agree to NEG, but that won’t be happening in the policy’s current form.
King coal to rule? Murdoch media should read the AEMO report again – it suggests that even under Coalition and state policies renewables will be around 50% by 2030. And that’s without being serious about climate change.
CSIRO report says Australia could lead world in re-use and recycling of lithium-ion batteries, generating potential billion-dollar industry, and helping to push down costs of EVs and battery storage.
The pipeline of wind and solar shows 3.3GW of wind and 3.4GW of solar PV either commissioning, under construction or certain to proceed. Add to that another 3GW of rooftop solar.
Renault makes electric Zoe available to individual consumers in Australia after modest sales to fleet owners.
After a record 2017, there is now more than 1900MW of solar PV farms under construction across Australia, and 35GW in various stages of development.
ACCC report identifies too little competition in market, but chooses to leave status quo in place. That won’t help energy prices.
Days after ACCC calls for rooftop solar scheme to be abolished, new report identifies why more rooftop solar should be encouraged to reduce peak demand on hot days and boost system security.
BMW Group has confirmed Australian arrival of MINI Countryman plug-in hybrid EV in second quarter of 2019.
Mini has released some preliminary sketches for what promises to be the first fully electric production model for the quintessentially British brand.
Ireland becomes world’s first nation to legislate to divest completely from fossil fuels, after passage of bill compelling €8.9bn Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to withdraw all money invested in oil, gas and coal.
Another report that ignores the positive carbon benefits of EVs; misrepresents EV infrastructure investments; and fails to provide adequate context to compare EV subsidies, costs, and impacts. We set the facts straight.
The ACCC has done a good job shedding light on some of the darker places of the electricity industry. But the recommendations range from unrealistic to downright dangerous. And some run across policy work of the ESB.
Tesla signs MOU to build EV plant in Shanghai, which will be producing 500,000 cars a year within five years’ time.
Networks say Regulator draft decision will result in largest single cut to the amount the sector can recover on its investments. Consumer group says it could have been bigger.
Germany 65% renewable energy target by 2030 will require a lot more wind and solar, but is feasible, says think tank.
If Turnbull is serious about lowering energy prices, he should bring the government-owned Snowy Hydro to heel on bidding practices, as he has praised Queensland government for doing in that state.
Still waiting on ISP and ACCC report. Meanwhile, wind and solar PV smooth out seasonal volatility.
It’s Australia’s ranking near the bottom of a global league table on energy efficiency that should be keeping us awake at night.
