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: 2nd October 2018

    October 2, 2018

    Global Insights: 2nd October 2018

    AUSTRALIA New ruling for generators to bring down costs for consumers The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) announced a new ruling for technical standards for generators this week.  The new ruling sets local technical performance standards for generators who wish to connect to the grid.  Currently there is a one size fits all approach for performance standards in voltage and frequency regulation.  The new ruling would allow the connection to be based on the system requirements for the local area, e.g. if there is already ample capability for voltage control this would not be required

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  • Global Insights: 25th September 2018

    September 25, 2018

    Global Insights: 25th September 2018

    AUSTRALIA AGL fails to report data and meet its emission targets in Victoria AGL, one of Australia’s largest energy companies, has come under fire from the Victorian Essential Services Commission (ESC) (the Victorian regulator) after failing to provide its 2017-18 performance report for energy retailing on time and failing to meet its emission offset levels. AGL stated that it was unable to provide the performance report due to limitations in their current reporting platform and the need to complete a ‘full rebuild’ of their reporting capability.  This then pushed the ESC to suggest that there

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  • Global Insights: 18th September 2018

    September 18, 2018

    Global Insights: 18th September 2018

    AUSTRALIA AEMC finalises decision on distributed energy resources register The Australian Energy Market Commission has made a final rule that will allow the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to establish a register for distributed energy resources which includes household PV and storage. The rule will not come into effect until 1st December next year with information guidelines for the register published in June.  The register will allow the market operator visibility of DER, especially home storage.  Currently there are no schemes or subsidies in place for home storage which means AEMO is unable to see

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  • Global Insights: 11th September 2018

    September 11, 2018

    Global Insights: 11th September 2018

    AUSTRALIA New national leadership for Australia Following a vote of no confidence, with the final straw being the controversy over the National Energy Guarantee, Malcolm Turnbull has been replaced as the leader of the coalition government by the even more conservative Scott Morrison.  The new Prime Minister has dropped the National Energy Guarantee in its current form, removing the Emissions Guarantee and leaving  the Reliability Guarantee. He has suggested that new coal plants could be the way forward for Australia to provide reliability and cheaper energy bills.  The Department of the Environment and Energy has

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  • New Thinking: Tales of the unexpected

    July 25, 2018

    New Thinking: Tales of the unexpected

    Tales of the unexpected: A policy success story? Helen Poulter, IGov Team, 25th July, 2018 This blog has been written to provide an analysis of how Australia became the world leader in the percentage of households installing small-scale PV (<100kW). It will introduce the initial policies that were put in place at the national and state level which were intended to capture Australia’s solar resource to help reduce the country’s emissions. The blog will discuss other unrelated events happening at the same time which culminated in higher than expected adoption rates. It will also comment on

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  • Global Insights: 24th July 2018

    July 24, 2018

    Global Insights: 24th July 2018

    AUSTRALIA AEMO releases Integrated System Plan The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is the system operator and national transmission planner.  This week AEMO released its inaugural Integrated System Plan (ISP) which builds on its annual National Transmission Network Development Plan.  The idea behind the ISP is to give a more coordinated approach to system planning and a long term strategic plan for the future of the energy market which will incorporate the policies from the National Energy Guarantee and state-based policies. The plan recognises that there are fundamental changes happening within the Australian energy system

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  • Global Insights: 17th July 2018

    July 17, 2018

    Global Insights: 17th July 2018

    AUSTRALIA ACCC report recommends extensive changes to the NEM The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) have released a report this week on retail pricing in the National Electricity Market (NEM).  The report recognises that competition in the NEM is not working and that the current approach to policy, regulatory design and promotion of competition is not working in the best interests for consumers.  The report has 56 recommendations around four broad areas: Boosting competition in generation and retail Lowering costs in networks, environmental schemes and retail Enhancing consumer experiences and outcomes Improving business outcomes

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  • Global Insights: 10th July 2018

    July 10, 2018

    Global Insights: 10th July 2018

    AUSTRALIA Work underway to provide a battery comparison register A project is currently being undertaken by the Victorian government, with funding provided by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and in conjunction with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Smart Energy Council, to create a comparative battery register. Australia is expecting a surge in the number of small scale battery installations to complement the almost 2 million household who currently have solar PV installed.  The register will enable householders and businesses to compare storage brands in terms of cycles, depth of discharge,

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  • Global Insights: 3rd July 2018

    July 3, 2018

    Global Insights: 3rd July 2018

    AUSTRALIA AER to review bidding practices in the wholesale energy market The Grattan Institute have released a report this week investigating the high prices of the National Electricity Market (NEM).  The report concludes that the high prices were caused by closure of old, low-cost, coal generators which caused a reduction in supply and pushed prices up; the rising cost of fuel i.e. black and brown coal and gas; and the ‘gaming’ of the electricity market by major electricity generators.  Gaming has been estimated to have cost customers as much as $800m in 2016-17. The report

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  • Global Insights: 26th June 2018

    June 26, 2018

    Global Insights: 26th June 2018

    AUSTRALIA Jemena takes on Western Power’s Frank Tudor for new managing director Jemena, one of the privately owned distribution companies for Melbourne and Victoria has appointed Frank Tudor, the former CEO of Wester Power, as their new managing director.  Frank Tudor has been instrumental in Western Australia (WA) in realising the benefits of DER in the electricity system.  Western Power are the state-owned transmission and distribution company in WA and have been at the forefront of promoting the use of micro-grids.  It will be interesting to see how Frank Tudor will integrate his expertise in

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