Winter weather highlights bigger role for batteries

The latest quarterly report from the country’s energy market operator shows the role of batteries in supporting demand peaks in the National Electricity Market is on the rise, with average generation in those periods more than doubling since the same time last year.

July 24, 2024 David Carroll

Image: AGL

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) Quarterly Energy Dynamics report shows battery contributions to meeting daily maximum operational demand in the National Electricity Market (NEM) increased to 1.3% in the June quarter, up from 0.5% in Q2 2023.

AEMO’s quarterly report shows cold weather drove record demand in the NEM in the June quarter, reaching a maximum operational demand of 32,322 MW during the evening of 24 June, a 2 MW increase from Q2 2023’s maximum of 32,320 MW.

The weather conditions also saw less wind and rainfall in the southern states, reducing wind generation output by 20% from last winter and an 18% drop in hydro generators. Conversely, gas-fired generation increased by 16% compared to the same time last year.

Battery generation also increased with AEMO Chief Executive Officer Daniel Westerman saying the market conditions had highlighted the important role the technology will play as renewable generation becomes more dominant in Australia’s electricity grids.

“On the east coast we have seen low temperatures and persistent cold snaps, especially in Victoria, which have driven higher morning peak demands through the tail end of autumn and the first month of winter,” he said.

“The role of batteries in supporting morning and evening demand peaks became more prominent, with average generation in those periods more than doubling since last year, reflecting the significant increase in battery capacity.”

AEMO said battery generation during the morning operational demand peak averaged 138 MW during through April, May and June, more than double the 67 MW recorded in Q2 2023.

Generation during the evening peak reached an average of 227 MW, up 130% on the 128 MW from last year.

Across all hours of the day battery generation averaged 74 MW in the June quarter, an 89% uplift on the 35 MW recorded in the same period last year.

The growing role of batteries delivered increased revenues for operators with total estimated net revenue for NEM grid-scale batteries this quarter rising to $41.2 million (USD 27.22 million), an increase of $13.6 million from the $27.7 net revenue earned in Q2 2023.

AEMO said the main driver for the increased net revenue was growth in battery capacity and availability, with NEM-wide average quarterly battery generation availability almost doubling from 496 MW in Q2 2023 to 985 MW this quarter.

While the role of battery energy storage systems increased, distributed PV and grid-scale solar output also increased in the June quarter.

Grid-scale solar generation averaged 1,417 MW, a 10% increase from 1,285 MW in Q2 2023, mainly due to additional output from new and commissioning facilities.

Distributed PV output achieved its highest June quarterly average on record, reaching 2,050 MW, up 163 MW on Q2 2023’s 1,888 MW.

Wholesale spot prices averaged $133 per MWh across the NEM this quarter, up 23% on the same period last year. Regional reference prices ranged from $173 / MWh in NSW to $101 / MWh in Queensland

In Western Australia prices remained relatively flat, averaging $79.79 / MWh, up $0.30 / MWh on Q2 2023, with an increase in rooftop solar generation “more than offsetting underlying demand growth to reduce reliance on grid-scale generation.”

AEMO said rooftop solar generation in the Wholesale Energy Market (WEM) increased by 49 MW in the June quarter due to sunny conditions and an increase in installed capacity.

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