Reports

Solar Report: First Quarter 2024

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Solar Report: First Quarter 2024

By the end of the first quarter this year solar PV installations had put been fitted to more than 3.7 million Australian rooftops with a capacity of 22.58GW, according to the Clean Energy Regulator. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments with rooftop solar, as well as the impact utility-scale solar is having on price setting in the National Electricity Market.

BY Aaron Martinez Apr 18 2024

Bottlenecks affecting generation development in WA

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Bottlenecks affecting generation development in WA

An energy transition is underway in Western Australia, led by State Government commitments and proposed policies that will shift the electricity sector towards more intermittent and low emission capacity. This Oakley Greenwood report provides a qualitative assessment of the challenges and bottlenecks of investing in new generation in the WEM, and the consequences if new generation cannot connect to the grid in a timely manner.

BY Australian Energy Council Feb 16 2024

Solar Report: Fourth Quarter 2023

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Solar Report: Fourth Quarter 2023

Our appetite for solar PV continues. At the end of last year Australia’s total installed solar rooftop capacity had reached more than 22GW. A total of 2785MW of new rooftop solar was installed by the end of 2023. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments in the sector, including its levelised cost of energy and the average payback period for solar PV systems.

BY Aaron Martinez Feb 15 2024

Solar Report: Third Quarter 2023

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Solar Report: Third Quarter 2023

Our appetite for solar PV continues. At the end of the third quarter, Australia’s total installed solar rooftop capacity had reached 21.2GW. More than 68,000 new installations were added to the grid in the quarter with a total installed capacity of 620MW. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments in the sector, including its levelised cost of energy and the average payback period for solar PV systems.

BY Australian Energy Council Nov 09 2023

Solar Report: Second quarter 2023

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Solar Report: Second quarter 2023

At the end of the second quarter, Australia’s total installed solar rooftop capacity had reached a massive 20.5GW. More than 61,000 new installations were added to the grid in the quarter with a total installed capacity of 520MW. In addition to the latest installation statistics, we take a look at other developments in the sector, including its levelised cost of energy and the impact of recent interest rate rises on the average payback period for solar PV systems.

BY Australian Energy Council Aug 03 2023

Form of the Reliability Standard

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Form of the Reliability Standard

Since market start the NEM has used a single and simple outcome metric for its reliability standard: “Unserved Energy” (USE). Essentially, we target an average of no more than 10.5 minutes off supply per customer per year from rotational load-shedding. In response to a Reliability Panel Review, the Australian Energy Council has published a report by Endgame Economics that theoretically contemplates the appropriateness of the existing standard in the transitioning power system and concludes that the existing simple USE output form approach remains the best approach for the future power system, just as it is in the current power system.

BY Australian Energy Council Jul 13 2023

Solar Report: First Quarter 2023

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Solar Report: First Quarter 2023

The Australian Energy Council’s latest Solar Report highlights the continued growth in the role of rooftop solar within the grid. It is fast catching up to coal as Australia’s biggest generation source by capacity. We look at the latest installation figures for solar PV, battery as well as international developments.

BY Carol Tran Apr 27 2023

Battery Energy Storage System Guidance Report

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Battery Energy Storage System Guidance Report

The industry’s transition is resulting in energy companies’ health, safety and environment focus moving from conventional generation to large-scale batteries. To assist the industry’s reskilling, the AEC engaged GHD Engineering Consultants to provide an introduction to large-scale battery hazards. They list a wide range of potential hazards and regulatory instruments. They also reflect on regulatory frameworks and emergency services that are struggling to keep up with the rapid rate of change in a novel technology.

Mar 30 2023

Battery Energy Storage System Risk Register

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Battery Energy Storage System Risk Register

A high-level risk register to assist industry, regulators, and other stakeholders with the identification and management of risks relating to the operation of a large-scale battery energy storage system. It is focussed primarily on lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries.

Mar 30 2023

Just Transition - Navigating Australia’s energy transformation

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Just Transition - Navigating Australia’s energy transformation

The Australian Energy Council commissioned consulting and advisory firm, Strategen, to undertake a wide-ranging review of overseas and Australian experience in the energy transformation. It is instructive to learn from best practice transition examples, not only on how to mitigate the negative impacts, but also to maximise wider opportunities and this new report, Just Transition – Navigating Australia’s Energy Transformation, distils the most relevant insights.

BY Australian Energy Council Mar 10 2023

Solar Report: Fourth Quarter 2022

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Solar Report: Fourth Quarter 2022

The Australian Energy Council’s latest Solar Report updates on developments in the third quarter. Based on current Clean Energy Regulator (CER) data it shows a decline in the number of rooftop solar without battery installations for the first time since 2017. Rooftop solar with battery installations have increased, but an overall decline in installations still occurred. Regardless of the drop in Q4, solar continues to play a growing role in the grid. The report looks at factors behind the changes as well as state-by-state shifts.

BY Carol Tran Feb 16 2023

Analysis of mandatory frequency control by Provecta Consulting

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Analysis of mandatory frequency control by Provecta Consulting

The National Electricity Market’s (NEM) Reliability Panel is presently reviewing the NEM’s Frequency Operating Standards. One part of that review considers the maximum governor deadband generators must operate when providing mandatory primary frequency response. The AEC engaged expert consultants Provecta, to advise on the impacts of the present very narrow deadband of plus or minus 15 millihertz, which the Panel propose retaining. Provecta find this tight deadband is causing wear on thermal machines and may be causing some observed instability in the system frequency. Provecta suspect a widening of the deadband would benefit both plants and the system.

BY Australian Energy Council Feb 02 2023

Solar Report: Third quarter 2022

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Solar Report: Third quarter 2022

The Australian Energy Council’s latest Solar Report updates on developments in the third quarter. Based on current Clean Energy Regulator (CER) data it shows a drop in solar rooftop installations – due to a range of factors including supply chain costs and weather events. Regardless of the drop in Q3, solar continues to play a growing role in the grid. The report looks at factors behind the changes as well as state-by-state shifts.

BY Australian Energy Council Nov 03 2022

Capacity Market Model - CEPA Spreadsheet

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Capacity Market Model - CEPA Spreadsheet

Capacity mechanisms are common around the world, providing additional assurance regarding investment in reliable supply to meet demand, but always sit alongside an energy spot market that balances supply and demand from day to day. The AEC publishes today some excellent analysis prepared by CEPA economic consultants that shows there is no need to change the energy market, and “double dipping” won’t result.

Oct 13 2022

Adjustments to the market price cap in presence of a capacity mechanism

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Adjustments to the market price cap in presence of a capacity mechanism

Capacity mechanisms are common around the world, providing additional assurance regarding investment in reliable supply to meet demand, but always sit alongside an energy spot market that balances supply and demand from day to day. The AEC publishes today some excellent analysis prepared by CEPA economic consultants that shows there is no need to change the energy market, and “double dipping” won’t result.

Oct 13 2022

Australia's Energy Future - The energy transition and implications for transmission

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Australia's Energy Future - The energy transition and implications for transmission

The latest discussion paper in our series on Australia’s Energy Future focuses on building the transmission required to connect the large-scale renewable generators needed to progress Australia’s transition to net-zero. That some new transmission is required is not in doubt. But the continued support of consumers for the energy transition is predicated on building the system as efficiently as possible. This raises questions about how to determine what gets built and where, how it is funded and who should bear the risks of overbuilding or building in the wrong location.

BY Australian Energy Council Sep 01 2022

Australia's Energy Future - Distribution networks and the energy transition

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Australia's Energy Future - Distribution networks and the energy transition

The roles and responsibilities of electricity distribution networks are being challenged by the changing mix of resources in the grid. The energy transition is not just about reducing emissions by changing technologies in large-scale generation, it is also about a trend towards more localised, or distributed energy resources (DER). The Australian Energy Council’s latest discussion paper looks at what the transition might mean for distribution networks and customers.

BY Australian Energy Council Aug 11 2022

Australia's Energy Future - Regional Transitions

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Australia's Energy Future - Regional Transitions

The latest discussion paper in the Australian Energy Council’s “55 by 35” series on Australia’s Energy Future focuses on the implications of the target and the transition to net zero for regional economies in the light of the progressive closure of coal power plants. It recognises that there is a policy case for a focus on these regions, given that coal power plants (and in some cases associated mines) are major employers in those regions.

BY Australian Energy Council Aug 04 2022

Solar Report: Second quarter 2022

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Solar Report: Second quarter 2022

The Australian Energy Council’s latest Solar Report updates on developments in the second quarter. Based on current Clean Energy Regulator (CER) data it shows a drop in solar rooftop installations – due to a range of factors including supply chain costs and weather events. Regardless of the drop in Q2, solar continues to play a growing role in the grid. The report looks at factors behind the changes as well as state-by-state shifts.

Jul 28 2022

Australia's Energy Future - Hydrogen

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Australia's Energy Future - Hydrogen

The latest discussion paper in the Australian Energy Council’s “55 by 35” series on Australia’s Energy Future focuses on hydrogen. The AEC has proposed an interim economy-wide emission reduction target of 55 per cent from 2005 levels by 2035 and the papers consider options for decarbonisation. Hydrogen undoubtedly has considerable potential, but it’s still also a long way away from delivering on that potential.

BY Australian Energy Council Jul 28 2022

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