Global Insight

Each week we post an update of some of the interesting developments relating to future energy systems that have caught our eye. Within the IGov research we are focusing on developments in a number countries including Germany, Denmark, New York, California and Australia, but are also tracking developments more broadly across a number of continents. The weekly update will report on these.

  • Global Insights: 23rd January 2018

    January 23, 2018

    Global Insights: 23rd January 2018

    AUSTRALIA ‘Reliable Coal’ breaks again – and has to be saved by renewables and storage In another heatwave last week – with temperatures reaching 40C+ the 1100MW Loy Yang B coal generator in Victoria tripped, losing 530MW of capacity and sending prices in the energy market to $12,900MWh in Victoria and $14,200MWh in South Australia.  This is the thirteenth time a coal generator has failed this summer causing commentators to question whether they can be relied upon for peak generation. The good news for both industrial storage and domestic solar and storage is that they

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  • Global Insight 27: 16th January 2018

    January 16, 2018

    Global Insight 27: 16th January 2018

    AUSTRALIA Storage making headway in the start of 2018 In a ‘first of its kind’ project, a hydroponic agri-business in Victoria will power its entire business with renewable energy.  Powering and heating the extension of Nectar Farm’s site from 10-40 hectares with gas proved too expensive – but electrifying the entire operation has meant that it will be able to be powered from a 204MW wind farm and a 20MW/34MWh battery storage facility to be built nearby.  A deal between the Bungala Green Power Hub, the Victorian Government and Nectar Farms will see 15% of

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  • Global Insight 26: 8th January 2018

    January 9, 2018

    Global Insight 26: 8th January 2018

    Australia Hottest day in 80 years Unlike the ‘snowbomb’  hitting the USA , New South Wales, and in particular Sydney, had its hottest recorded temperatures for 80 years this weekend with the Penrith area reaching 47.3C.  Previous heat events have seen large areas losing power due to back-up generation being unavailable, whereas although 31,000 people lost power this weekend only 4 of the 42 outages were caused by overloading of the networks.  Critics have argued that the loss of power would have been much worse had the heatwave not been at the weekend and suggest

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  • Global Insight 25: 18th December 2017

    December 18, 2017

    Global Insight 25: 18th December 2017

    Australia Demand management incentive scheme The Australia Energy Regulator (AER) has this week released details of its Demand Management Incentive Scheme and the Demand Management Innovation Allowance.  The scheme will give more choice to how consumers use their household electricity and solar PV and storage systems by signing up to schemes such as virtual power plants.  This will enable distributors and consumers to work closer together to alleviate pressure on the grid. The AER estimates $1bn worth of demand management investment may be realised over 5 years. Report from the ISF suggests alternatives to

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  • Global Insight 24: 12th December 2017

    December 12, 2017

    Global Insight 24: 12th December 2017

    Australia The unseen benefits of renewable energy Last week’s Global Insights highlighted the official opening of the Hornsdale Power Reserve – the Tesla Big Battery – in Jamestown, South Australia.  As well as providing reliable, sustainable energy to the district it has also provided other benefits as Neoen, the owners of the Hornsdale wind farm, have shown foresight in how to make renewable energy have a positive impact on a local community. At all stages of the development Neoen worked with local stakeholders. During construction 250 jobs were created over three years which led to

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  • Global Insight 23: 4th December 2017

    December 5, 2017

    Global Insight 23: 4th December 2017

    Australia The Big Battery officially switched on On the 1st December South Australia officially turned on the Hornsdale Power Reserve – the Tesla Big Battery.  The battery, the world’s largest at 100MW/129MWh, was the result of tweets between South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.  Musk had promised to install the battery within 100 days or it would be free.  The battery is connected to the grid next to the 315MW Hornsdale wind farm and proved its worth even before the official switch on.  The battery discharged 70MW into the grid in

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  • Global Insight 22: 29th November 2017

    November 29, 2017

    Global Insight 22: 29th November 2017

    Australia COAG Energy Council Meet to discuss NEG The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council met last Friday to discuss the new National Energy Guarantee (NEG).  The NEG, which is to follow on from the Renewable Energy Target (RET) due to end in 2020, is made up of two parts and has a reliability guarantee and an emissions guarantee – and has caused controversy due to its decision to end subsidies for renewable energy projects whilst, as some commentators have reported, seeming to encourage the use of coal. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG)

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  • Global Insight 21 – 21st November 2017

    November 21, 2017

    Global Insight 21 – 21st November 2017

    Australia Off-grid solutions for rural customers cheaper option for networks The Australian Energy Networks Association (ENA) in conjunction with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) have called for a rule change to allow the networks to provide off-grid solutions to rural connections.  They state that recent trials in Western Australia have shown that using solar and battery storage with diesel generator back-up provides a more reliable, cost effective solution.  The rule change is required as networks are not allowed to provide generation or retail services, the same as the

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  • Global Insight 20 – 14th November 2017

    November 14, 2017

    Global Insight 20 – 14th November 2017

    Australia Solving the problem of apartment living and rooftop solar Industry analysts SunWiz have released their monthly update for October and have announced that small-scale solar (>100kW) has had its best October to date with registrations for 107MW of generation.   They estimate that if this growth continues then small-scale solar would have installed 1GW for the year.  The registrations were made up primarily of large commercial (75-100kW) and large domestic (6.3-8kW).  Costs for small-scale solar are also falling with a 5kW system costing  in the region of £3000. Solving the problem of apartment living and

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  • Global Insight 19 – 7th November 2017

    November 7, 2017

    Global Insight 19 – 7th November 2017

    Australia Steel giant recognizes the value of DER It is not just households that are recognizing the benefits of distributed energy (DER) in Australia.  This week one of GFG Alliance’s  Australia steel works has announced plans to use DER to reduce its energy expenditure and improve its sustainability.  GFG Alliance has invested in ZEN Energy and has announced plans to build 1GW of renewables to help power the companies Wyhalla plant.  The combination of 200MW solar PV, 100MW/100MWh battery storage, 100MW of demand response and a 120MW/160MWh pumped storage is expected to reduce the plants

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