Origin lines up another attack on renewable energy target

Origin Energy, Australia’s largest energy utility, has launched a new attack on the renewable energy target, arguing that it is exceeding its mandate and should be wound back – to a point where little or no large-scale wind or solar farms are constructed out to 2020.

In a presentation to a Macquarie Group conference this week. CEO Grant King argued that Australia’s renewable energy target was already at 16 per cent of national demand, and suggested that to reflect a “true” 20 per cent target, its scope should be drastically reduced.

origin RETKing presented the above graph to support his arguments. On the left hand side is its estimates of the amount of electricity demand, both real and forecast, and the make-up of renewables.

King argues that under this scenario only 9Twh more of renewable energy – both large scale and small scale – should be constructed under the renewable energy target, if it continues to exist.

If it is assumed that there is no further rooftop solar (unlikely unless it is removed from the scheme) this still represents a two third cut in the amount of large scale wind and solar farms that could be built out to 2020. If the figure does include small scale solar, it would mean virtually no large scale renewable energy projects between now and 2020.

This would be welcomed by the incumbent generators such as Origin and EnergyAustralia, as well as the state-owned generators such as Queensland’s Stanwell that want the target dismantled completely. They appear to have the ear of the government, and the industry fears it has the ear of the hand-picked and mostly anti-renewable RET review panel.

The argument presented by the utilities – and the Coalition – is one around costs to customers. In the table on the right on the above graph, King argues that the RET is adding $147 a year to consumer bills.

However, the table has angered renewable industry, who point out that state based feed in tariffs and energy efficiency schemes have nothing to do with the RET. And Origin has used old data to inflate the cost of the small scale scheme.

The REC Agents Association said the number of certificates has more than halved and the expected cost this year is closer to $24 than $67. “Origin’s figures are exorbitant, even if we allow for higher target last year,” said spokesman Ric Brazzale. Studies from the Clean Energy Council, Schneider Electric and others say the fall in wholesale prices offsets the cost of the certificates.

The real reason that utilities such as Origin are arguing against the RET – both large scale and small scale – is the impact of their incumbent generation. As this graph used by Origin shows, the combined impact of energy efficiency schemes, rooftop solar, falling demand, and increased large scale renewables is forcing black coal and gas out of the market.

origin demand supply

King argues that in the “normal course” it would be expected that generators could better balance supply and demand and “restore reasonable returns to generation.” Most generators are not making any money at the moment, including brown coal generators in Victoria, black coal generators in Queensland, and some gas generators.

King said it was likely that much gas demand would be withdrawn from the market because of the rising prices caused by the creation of the LNG export market. That generation would be taken up by black coal. Origin last year bought two large black coal generators in NSW.

 

Comments

6 responses to “Origin lines up another attack on renewable energy target”

  1. Zvyozdochka Avatar
    Zvyozdochka

    The business-as-usual rent seekers are the most dangerous of them all. Get onboard with the renewable revolution Origin or die. Citizens will be very pleased to help ensure your business model is over otherwise.

  2. Chris Fraser Avatar
    Chris Fraser

    Incumbents have just confected another amazing conspiracy. Clearly, the power of renewable energy to reduce wholesale prices can no longer be ignored. There are times in some states when available wind overwhelms the capacity of the fossil generators, sending the wholesale price crashing ! Look for badly-invested generators to be the drivers behind this.

  3. JeffJL Avatar
    JeffJL

    So, let me get this right. Green energy programs are pushing up the price we pay for electricity. Thus getting rid of them will lower the price of electricity.

    At this elevated price (due to green energy programs) generators are not getting “reasonable returns”.

    Thus drop the green programs and generators will return to making “reasonable returns”.

    Now I understand.

  4. juxx0r Avatar
    juxx0r

    What’s Origin doing championing the cause of consumers to a merchant bank? Oh wait that’s right it’s better than the alternative which is that “we’re not making any money because of the success of renewables to reduce the wholesale price of electricity and therefore customers bills.”

  5. Ian Garradd Avatar
    Ian Garradd

    While the majority of people aim high and want more renewable I is disappointing to see the utilities and coalition aiming oh so low.
    If only they could re frame their business and political to see the many and great opportunities available in the clean energy sector.

  6. Peter Castaldo Avatar
    Peter Castaldo

    He’s just a salesman, his only objective is to maximize monetary profit to “his shareholders” anyone who takes his advice and is not one of his shareholders that just want the money is a fool.

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