Solar power has to be about quality as well as quantity
Greater dispatchability will be required from solar as it becomes increasingly mainstream worldwide, or investors could experience diminishing returns as a victim of the technology’s success at bearing down on electricity prices.
Battery storage systems 30% cheaper than rival gas peaker plants for firming renewables
The contest is over. Faster, cheaper, more flexible than gas turbines … battery energy storage must be the future peaking energy service provider of choice says the hard evidence exposed in a new paper by the Clean Energy Council.
AEMC hands down final decision on cashflow rule change
The Australian Energy Market Commission has again rejected requests from transmission network operators TransGrid and ElectraNet to allow for a change of rules governing financing arrangements for large-scale transmission projects considered critical for Australia’s shift to 100% renewables.
Digital substations learn how to reliably work with variable renewables
“If I only had a brain …” Smart digital technology enables electricity substations to deliver greater reliability of operation and more consistent grid stability with increasing integration of renewable energy sources.
AEMO publishes ‘Engineering Framework’ for accelerating energy transition
The Australian Energy Market Operator has published an engineering framework as it looks to conceive a broader framework for how the National Energy Market can facilitate the accelerating energy transition.
Here’s what Biden’s infrastructure bill offers solar and cleantech
The $2 trillion package includes a proposed 10-year extension of the ITC and PTC and calls for further incentives to add transmission capacity. Most solar advocates liked it, but one nonprofit panned it as being too industry-friendly.
Researchers target rooftop solar in hunt for grid security
A new research project being led by the University of New South Wales will investigate how rooftop solar PV and other distributed energy resources (DER), including small-scale batteries can be best integrated into Australia’s power grid.
AGL teams up with Ovo to digitise energy management in Australian households
AGL has announced a joint venture with the UK’s Ovo Energy for exclusive Australian rights to its Kaluza smart energy platform. The partnership comes at a time when grid stability is a hot topic and energy management systems are a key tool for owners of rooftop solar to optimise their investment.
Sunday read: The regulator’s wish is my export limitation
As distributed PV grows, new grid codes have scared installers across some markets. Network operators want to gain control over grid export, even of smaller arrays. Additions of new array controllers and special gateways could be costly putting speedy development of PV at risk. Fret not, says Fimer, as the Italy-based power-electronics manufacturer has placed the solution to the problem already inside its latest inverter range.
Solar export tax proposal stirs immediate outcry, but AEMC insists ‘doing nothing is not an option’
The Australian Energy Market Commission, Australia’s energy rule maker, today released its draft determination on how to integrate energy technologies like solar and batteries into the electricity grid. In the draft, the Commission revived its proposal for a solar tax, immediately stirring backlash.
