electricity network Archives - Renew Economy

Solar

ACCC wants federal rooftop solar subsidy abolished by 2021
ACCC calls for federal solar subsidy to be scrapped by 2021, in report that documents how consumers have been screwed by networks, generators and retailers. Its response: Kill rooftop solar, and get government to underwrite new projects that could include gas and coal.
Giles Parkinson

Jul 11, 2018

76
Featured

Lousy power quality? Blame the grid, not rooftop PV
High voltage on local networks is frying appliances, and costing consumers billions of dollars. The media and the networks have sought to blame the issue on rooftop PV, but a new study suggests the networks are to blame.
Giles Parkinson

Apr 27, 2018

38
Renewables

A brave new world of grid integrated renewables
Current trends make a mockery of doubts peddled by network incumbents that fossil fuel power is the best way to assure security of electricity supply.
Gerard Wynn

Feb 16, 2018

12
Markets

Coalition backtracks on Paris deal, ABC cuts corners on energy
Coalition appears to be rapidly backtracking on Paris climate treaty as ABC’s Four Corners falls into the same trap of relying too heavily on lobbyists. They interviewed the wrong people.
Giles Parkinson

May 9, 2017

43
Featured

Fossil fuel generators may be threat to grid security
Concerns raised again that the NEM’s coal and gas generators can no longer deliver the grid security services expected of them.
Giles Parkinson

Mar 22, 2017

63
Markets

Gas generators hold South Australia consumers to ransom, again
Market rules again under focus as SA generators push up prices, and regulator report documents another incidence when gas plant “failures” and rebidding pushed prices to stratospheric levels.
Giles Parkinson

Mar 22, 2017

21
Featured

Coal-reliant NSW faces rolling blackouts as accusations fly in South Australia
Coal-dependent NSW faces rolling blackouts on Friday as temperatures soar to 45C, after similar problems in renewable-rich South Australia. But the biggest problem is that we get dumb politics, and a dumb grid because of it.
Giles Parkinson & Sophie Vorrath

Feb 9, 2017

170
Markets

SAPN takes battle over network costs to Federal Court
SA government vows to “fight tooth and nail” against network operator as SAPN takes revenue challenge to federal court.
Sophie Vorrath

Nov 28, 2016

5
Markets

Storm of controversy erupts over AEMO blackout report
AEMO report into blackout suggests fall in wind output, caused by an easily fixed “self protect” mechanism, was main cause of blackout. But wind industry says catastrophic fall in voltage as transmission lines fell was biggest culprit. And everyone wonders why AEMO had no plan B.
Giles Parkinson

Oct 19, 2016

23
Renewables

Kangaroo Island’s choice: a new cable to the mainland, or renewables
Choosing renewables means negotiating a series of technical and regulatory issues at a scale never before attempted in Australia. But if anyone can do it…
Chris Dunstan

Sep 16, 2016

5
Storage

ACT pours another $5m into battery storage research
ANU-based research program that aims lead the world in grid-scale battery storage innovation and integration has won $5m grant from ACT government.
Sophie Vorrath

Sep 7, 2016

1
Networks discover that rooftop solar is no longer the enemy
Australian network operators have had an epiphany. The future lies in solar and storage and smart technologies, and the utilities have to cater for customer needs. But is too late?
Giles Parkinson

May 24, 2016

22