Tesla battery and “hidden demand” added to popular NEM-Watch

Two significant new additions have been made to the highly popular NEM-Watch feature on RenewEconomy’s pages, with the addition of data from the Tesla big battery, and the addition of state demand levels, including the “hidden demand” from rooftop solar PV.

The additions have been made by RenewEconomy’s partners in the project, the data specialists Global-Roam.

It’s quite something to have the battery storage added, because the 100MW/129MWh facility can both draw down and put into the grid, and can switch in a matter of seconds.

It’s not the only technology storing energy, however, and the update also adds in the “loading” of pumped hydro facilities, when water is pumped up hill during times of low demand, and presumably lower prices, until a peak event requires the water to cascade back down and spin a turbine and create electricity.

The demand data (in the second row for each state grid) was added because it is a significant component of the workings of the National Energy Market, and which states have to draw on generation elsewhere, or are exporting to neighbouring grids.

You will notice that the WA grid, which is isolated, must always perfectly match demand and supply, as the NEM needs to overall.

AEMO, the market operator, actually has little visibility over the 6GW of rooftop solar on the grid, and the amount that is “self consumed”.

But its presence on the graph – the demand that AEMO can’t see – is an important feature of how grids will be managed, so it’s inclusion is valuable.

The additions will also be included on the live widget on the home and story pages in the next week or so.

We hope you enjoy the new additions to the NEM-Watch feature, and enjoy watching as much as we do as the share of green (wind), yellow and gold (large and small scale PV) continue to grow, along with storage.