News & Discussion: Electricity Infrastructure

[rubberman]

Both sides of government have been offering sizable subsidies for solar and battery installations to reduce household power prices.

It isn't available or suitable for everyone.

In 2022 44% of houses in SA had solar installed.

I have heard previously Roi for solar systems is often 3-4 years and the panels will continue to operate well for 20+ years. The inverter likely will need replacing before the panels.

The gov did also give everyone $75(I think?) credit on their power bill this year.

I'm thinking about buying some shares in Origin or AGL. At least I'll see something from my electricity bill.

[mattblack]

Vast Solar secures funds to advance Australia’s first big solar thermal project and local manufacturing

Australia’s Vast Solar says it has now secured nearly half of a promised grant from the federal government’s renewable energy agency as it advances work on building manufacturing capacity for its solar thermal technology and preparing for the country’s first large scale solar thermal project.

The $30 million funding agreement announced on Tuesday is part of a $65 million funding deal from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced by federal energy minister Chris Bowen in early 2023.

“That was the first brick in the wall,” Vast Solar CEO Craig Wood told Renew Economy on Tuesday. “We have had to finish the engineering, costing and contracting for the manufacturing of the gear that we will make in Australia. We had to have all that in place before we could pull down the funding.”

The company is now working to get to financial close – planned in early 2025 – for a 30 MW solar thermal project with eight hours of storage (240 MWh) in Port Augusta, and an accompanying solar methanol plant, in what would be the first large scale solar thermal project in the country.

There have been several false starts for the technology. A much bigger solar thermal project put forward by the US-based Solar Reserve for Port Augusta fell apart after that company went bankrupt, and Vast still hopes to tap into the offer of $110 million of concessional finance from the federal government made available for that project.

The second $35 million tranche of funding from Arena will help. It also hopes to draw on the resources of French nuclear giant EdF, which has invested €10 million into Vast Solar itself and has committed to being an equity partner in the Port Augusta project, which is expected to cost between $360 and $390 million.

The news came as the CSIRO also announced a record capital raise for its own solar thermal technology, fuelling hopes that the day of solar thermal may finally arrive in Australia, after more than a decade of promise that got sideswiped by the plunging cost of solar PV.

Wood says several factors are playing towards solar thermal – including its own cost reductions, its relative low cost long duration storage essential for high renewable grids (particularly those with no pumped hydro), the demand for solar heat and the promise of adjacent technologies such as solar fuels, including methanol.

Wood says solar PV and battery storage has dominated the market for grids with up to 60 to 65 per cent share of wind and solar. Beyond that, long term storage is needed.

“Solar thermal is the cheapest solution, particularly if you don’t have water (pumped hydro),” Wood says. “And nothing makes green heat as cheap as solar thermal.”

Wood says EdF is interested because, despite its focus on maintaining France’s nuclear fleet, it has a big commitment to renewables, and has expertise – from its nuclear facilities – in the use of sodium as a heat transfer fluid. (Sodium is used in some nuclear reactors as a coolant).

Wood says the company is well placed to advance its project, despite its recent eye-watering loss caused by non-cash write downs and the cost of listing in the U.S., where it hopes to tap into capital markets.

Its long term plan is not to be a developer – it wants to be a manufacturer and licensor of solar thermal technology such as heliostats (mirrors), receivers and control systems – but it needs to build a “first of its kind” scale project (beyond the demonstration scale Jemalong project pictured above) to attract buyers.

“Unlocking this funding helps accelerate our Australian green technology manufacturing and the final stages of development for our first utility-scale project,” Wood said in an earlier statement.

“Arena’s backing has been pivotal, getting us to a point where we are garnering significant interest from investors, industry and international governments keen to explore how our technology can play a key role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors including electricity, industry and fuels.

“With the continued support of the Australian Government and our investors, we are looking forward to building our next projects, and to helping Australia become an export powerhouse for this next generation of green technology.”

[Waewick]

That's great news.

CSIRO in on the tech also gives you hope it will come to fruition

[mattblack]

South Australia’s biggest battery charges up as new wave of storage prepares to enter grid

The Blyth battery in South Australia, the biggest to be connected to the state’s high renewable grid in terms of storage, has kicked off its commissioning stage as part of a new wave of big batteries to be connected to the grid.

Blyth is owned by Neoen, the French renewable and storage developer that was responsible for the country’s first big battery at Hornsdale, built in 2017 and since expanded to 150 MW, and 193 MWh.

Blyth will have a smaller connection capacity than AGL’s 250 MW, one hour Torrens Island battery, but at 238.5 MW and 477 MWh, it will have storage that any other in the state – even if that mantle will soon be lost to the Limestone Coast battery that was one of four winners in South Australia of the first auction under the Capacity Investment Scheme.

South Australia currently sources more than 70 per cent of its electricity demand needs from wind and solar (12 month rolling average), and aims to lift that to ” net” 100 per cent renewables by 2027 – net meaning that it will still export and import according to daily needs.

The Blyth battery is interesting because it will have a first-of-its-kind contract to help deliver a 70 MW “baseload renewables” contract to mining giant BHP’s Olympic Dam mine further north, supplementing power from the new 412 Goyder South wind farm.

The first stage of the Goyder South wind farm is also well into its commissioning process, producing at up to nearly 100 MW over the weekend, while the second stage appears to be in the early commissioning stage. The output from Goyder South will also contribute to contracts with the ACT government and retailer Flow Power.

The Blyth battery, which completed construction last month ahead of schedule, is one of around 40 big battery projects currently under construction across Australia, including in W.A., the Northern Territory and at some remote, off grid mines.

In South Australia, the winners of the federal government’s first big battery tender are kicking off construction of their projects, including Pacific Green, which is building the 250 MW, 1,000 MWh Limestone Coast battery and Zen Energy, with a 170 MW, 653 MWh Solar River battery.

EnergyAustralia was also successful with another battery project in South Australia, a 50 MW, 200 MWh battery it will build near the Hallett wind farms near Canownie, while Pacific Blue, which used to be known as Pacific Hydro, has already begun building the 60 MW, 143 MWh battery next to its Clements Gap wind farm in the mid-north.

These will take the total number of big battery projects in the state to at least 11, from four now in full operation – Hornsdale, Lake Bonney, Torrens Island, and Dalrymple North.

Elsewhere, Neoen is also commissioning the 100 MW, 200 MWh Capital battery in the ACT, is operating the first stage of the Western Downs battery in Queensland, and building a similarly sized 270 MW, 540 MWh second stage, and has completed the first stage of the 219 MW / 877 MWh Collie battery in Western Australia.

That Collie battery will grow to the be the country’s biggest – at 560 MW, and 2240 MWh – when the second stage is complete in late 2025, although it will soon be overtaken by the newly expanded Eraring battery – 700 MW, 2,800 MWh – when its second stage is complete in 2027.

Other big battery projects working through the commissioning process, or about to, include the Tailem Bend battery in South Australia, and the Rangebank battery in Victoria.

In Western Australia, the Cunderdin solar hybrid project, with 125 MW solar farm and a 55 MW, 220 MWh battery, is also preparing to go through the connection and commissioning process.

See Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia for more information.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-austr ... nter-grid/

[Algernon]

Having trouble juggling all the numbers in my head because some are 4 hours duration the others 2. But I understand that what is currently U/C will deliver capacity of roughly 500MW/4Hr and then some additional 2 hours capacity. Taking just the 4 hours capacity, this would mean roughly a quarter of peak demand can be supplied from battery for 4 hours and even more for 2. Supply during peak is the less likely scenario as this is when solar is supplying the grid. For off peak, it'll supply about 1/3 of the roughly 1500MW demand.

That is a fair whack of "the problem" of intermittent renewables being solved right now, as we speak. Not just in terms of the overall capacity shortfall that needs to be filled, but in terms of bringing down the number of days in a year that it'd be needed.

It doesn't seem like SA needs much of any additional generating capacity from wind and solar to meet 100% net renewables. Factoring in how much curtailment goes on right now, I think a simple build out of storage capacity will get the state close to 100% with what wind/solar it already has and the NSW interconnector will send it flying past the target. That said, there's plenty of value in continuing to build out the generator capacity because, quite frankly, Victoria and NSW need all the help they can get.

[mattblack]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it. 2. When is this interconnector to NSW slated for completion?

[rev]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it. 2. When is this interconnector to NSW slated for completion?

https://www.projectenergyconnect.com.au

2026/2027 the eastern section is meant to undergo testing.
Western section is meant to be ready for testing now if it hasn't already.

Not sure if anyones posted this yet, but its forecast by 2050 10,000km of transmission lines are needed as part of the whole energy transition stuff. For comparison Highway 1 is 14,500km.
Crazy numbers.

[PD2/20]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it.
...

The NemLog website does report an estimate of curtailment. The Generation link at the top of each of their webpages leads to a page that has, for each region, plots of generator output (both % and MW) broken down by generation type and by generation unit and tables of generation by unit for the current dispatch interval and for the current and preceding day. The plots by generator type include a measure of curtailment shown as a brown dashed line.

The degree of curtailment is derived from AEMO data but has to be inferred by making certain assumptions. A broad definition. of curtailment for RE would be "generation that is available but not dispatched". Availability is derived from the Projected Assessment of System Adequacy (PASA) procedures for the NEM energy market. These procedures include ST PASA (short term, 7 days in advance) and PD PASA (pre-dispatch, 24 hours). Michelle Gannon has an article on Watt Clarity from 5 June 2020 entitled "Not as simple as it appears – estimating curtailment of renewable generation". There are two main types of curtailment: economic, where generation is withdrawn in times of negative market prices and network where generation is curtailed because of security and stability constraints enforced to protect transmission links.

[rubberman]

The private companies owning these assets have a history of gold plating and convincing politicians of all colours of the need for it. They get a nice guaranteed return for the shareholders.

We went through this in 2010, and billions were spent. Where did that money go?

Now they are at it again.

[mattblack]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it.
...

The NemLog website does report an estimate of curtailment. The Generation link at the top of each of their webpages leads to a page that has, for each region, plots of generator output (both % and MW) broken down by generation type and by generation unit and tables of generation by unit for the current dispatch interval and for the current and preceding day. The plots by generator type include a measure of curtailment shown as a brown dashed line.

The degree of curtailment is derived from AEMO data but has to be inferred by making certain assumptions. A broad definition. of curtailment for RE would be "generation that is available but not dispatched". Availability is derived from the Projected Assessment of System Adequacy (PASA) procedures for the NEM energy market. These procedures include ST PASA (short term, 7 days in advance) and PD PASA (pre-dispatch, 24 hours). Michelle Gannon has an article on Watt Clarity from 5 June 2020 entitled "Not as simple as it appears – estimating curtailment of renewable generation". There are two main types of curtailment: economic, where generation is withdrawn in times of negative market prices and network where generation is curtailed because of security and stability constraints enforced to protect transmission links.

[mattblack]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it.
...

The NemLog website does report an estimate of curtailment. The Generation link at the top of each of their webpages leads to a page that has, for each region, plots of generator output (both % and MW) broken down by generation type and by generation unit and tables of generation by unit for the current dispatch interval and for the current and preceding day. The plots by generator type include a measure of curtailment shown as a brown dashed line.

The degree of curtailment is derived from AEMO data but has to be inferred by making certain assumptions. A broad definition. of curtailment for RE would be "generation that is available but not dispatched". Availability is derived from the Projected Assessment of System Adequacy (PASA) procedures for the NEM energy market. These procedures include ST PASA (short term, 7 days in advance) and PD PASA (pre-dispatch, 24 hours). Michelle Gannon has an article on Watt Clarity from 5 June 2020 entitled "Not as simple as it appears – estimating curtailment of renewable generation". There are two main types of curtailment: economic, where generation is withdrawn in times of negative market prices and network where generation is curtailed because of security and stability constraints enforced to protect transmission links.

Ok, so could the economic curtailment be utilised by say, the government for their hydrogen plans to purchase excess power at minimal prices? Additionally, I'm guessing that if the touted thermal plant does get built along with further renewables expansion, additional distribution capacity would need to be built - the government seems to be the ones building this infrastructure, like the interstate connectors, how does the government recoupe their investment?

[Algernon]

The NemLog website does report an estimate of curtailment. The Generation link at the top of each of their webpages leads to a page that has, for each region, plots of generator output (both % and MW) broken down by generation type and by generation unit and tables of generation by unit for the current dispatch interval and for the current and preceding day. The plots by generator type include a measure of curtailment shown as a brown dashed line.

The degree of curtailment is derived from AEMO data but has to be inferred by making certain assumptions. A broad definition. of curtailment for RE would be "generation that is available but not dispatched". Availability is derived from the Projected Assessment of System Adequacy (PASA) procedures for the NEM energy market. These procedures include ST PASA (short term, 7 days in advance) and PD PASA (pre-dispatch, 24 hours). Michelle Gannon has an article on Watt Clarity from 5 June 2020 entitled "Not as simple as it appears – estimating curtailment of renewable generation". There are two main types of curtailment: economic, where generation is withdrawn in times of negative market prices and network where generation is curtailed because of security and stability constraints enforced to protect transmission links.

Ok, so could the economic curtailment be utilised by say, the government for their hydrogen plans to purchase excess power at minimal prices?

I mean sure, but the array of batteries would be soaking that all up first. Honestly I think the hydrogen industry is an expensive distraction to appease a sector that wants energy to be stored/sold as a liquid. I don't see the point of it. If it's intended use is a battery, then batteries and pumped hydro can do it without all the extra faffing about.

[Algernon]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it. 2. When is this interconnector to NSW slated for completion?

https://www.projectenergyconnect.com.au

2026/2027 the eastern section is meant to undergo testing.
Western section is meant to be ready for testing now if it hasn't already.

Not sure if anyones posted this yet, but its forecast by 2050 10,000km of transmission lines are needed as part of the whole energy transition stuff. For comparison Highway 1 is 14,500km.
Crazy numbers.

the western section is in testing and has a 150mw capacity (of the overall 700 when the eastern section is complete).

Regarding the 10,000km transmission lines, this number got bandied around a lot in the last year, but not in a particularly helpful way. Namely, it was being quoted as "new" capacity needed, which it isn't.

[mattblack]

Ok, so could the economic curtailment be utilised by say, the government for their hydrogen plans to purchase excess power at minimal prices?

I mean sure, but the array of batteries would be soaking that all up first. Honestly I think the hydrogen industry is an expensive distraction to appease a sector that wants energy to be stored/sold as a liquid. I don't see the point of it. If it's intended use is a battery, then batteries and pumped hydro can do it without all the extra faffing about.

It's not a battery, it's a 250KW power plant which is meant to be the catalyst for powering a desal plant and arc furnaces to manufacture green iorn. It's the first piece of the puzzle to the State Prosperity Project.

[rev]

Been looking but very hard to find, I'm sure somebody on here can enlighten me. 1. What is the current curtailment rate/percentage on our generation? AEMO and Open Electricity don't seem to note it. 2. When is this interconnector to NSW slated for completion?

https://www.projectenergyconnect.com.au

2026/2027 the eastern section is meant to undergo testing.
Western section is meant to be ready for testing now if it hasn't already.

Not sure if anyones posted this yet, but its forecast by 2050 10,000km of transmission lines are needed as part of the whole energy transition stuff. For comparison Highway 1 is 14,500km.
Crazy numbers.

the western section is in testing and has a 150mw capacity (of the overall 700 when the eastern section is complete).

Regarding the 10,000km transmission lines, this number got bandied around a lot in the last year, but not in a particularly helpful way. Namely, it was being quoted as "new" capacity needed, which it isn't.

A little while back i stumbled across a map showing a shit load of projects coming up just for new transmission lines mainly in Queensland and NSW, there was one project alone from memory that was nearly 2000km. If I can find it again I'll post it, but it was a big eye opener with regards to this transition to renewables. I had assumed it was all about solar and wind farms and that's what most of the talk in here was over, but obviously a lot more to it then I first thought.