Noticed this today on the way to morning peak demand – see the spike in all States at about 6am. The Wind Energy site shows a wind drought from yesterday midday. NemWatch. Easily understandable how low wind in South Australia can lead to price spikes when demand is high. But in the case of Vic, NSW and Qld with large coal and gas gen – the wind sector is too small to have much effect I would have thought. In the case of Tasmania obviously the Basslink cable lets Vic prices reflect to the south side of Bass St.
I am wondering if this spike is another sign that the fossil fuel generators are fed up with being used as suckers by the MRET scheme. I say good on them if that is the case.
Edit – 8am 6 Aug – Hiroshima Day – National wind drought now – to check on progress at Wind Energy – click the Tab to MW.
Nemwatch shows national wind drought today at 2pm with only 67MW including WA. Can not recall seeing such a low figure before. SA only 29MW from wind. Could be an interesting evening peak if the wind drought is not broken.
Those type of spikes are often caused by a large unit like one of the 660MW ones tripping off. There aren’t enough reserves to cover it. Easy to spot if you look at the grid frequwncy at the same time
You could not trust pollies to tie their own shoelaces. How dare industry just want to pay for 24/7 electricity.
Tasmanian energy crisis inquiry: Minister takes aim at Bell Bay boss over industry flak 8 Aug 2016
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-08/groom-defends-decision-to-withdraw-from-inquiry/7699982?section=tas
Interesting how wind and renewables get such a favourable run in the meedja – note how this article from West River in WA never mentions that wind power could be adding to problems keeping grid electricity stable at the far SE area of the grid – influenced by the Albany and Merredin wind farms.
Solar could be game changer for rural communities going off the grid 6 Aug 16
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-06/solar-could-be-game-changer-for-rural-communities-on-grid-edge/7681398?section=wa
Another example below of the grid not coping with erratic wind power.
Hazardous fire tackled at Silverton power substation in SA 8 Aug 16
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-08/crews-battle-silverton-power-substation-fire/7699296?section=sa
Quote – SA Power Networks said the fire was next door to its Starfish Hill wind farm
Note also how in the early hours of this morning at the time of low demand –
www.aemo.com.au/Electricity/National-Electricity-Market-NEM/Data-dashboard#price-demand
AEMO data shows that SA price went negative – due to abundance of wind power dumping generation in excess of demand. Those negative prices also show in Vic and Tas. How mad is this? We all know there is “no free lunch” – electricity costs to produce and distribute and if not paid for this can only harm the “real world” generators that can and do produce 24/7 day in day out. Why are we allowing our national grid system to tolerate negative prices? Nobody will ever write on your power bill – “Oh here is a refund for a period of negative prices”.