Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: New funding for ultra low-cost solar RayGen chalks up another milestone Good on you says John Grimes Chasing down the solar cost curve The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a longstanding champion of solar power, launched a $60 million funding round for R&D into ultra low-cost solar. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology continues to evolve rapidly and remains the backbone of the clean energy transition. Universities, research...
2 days ago • 10 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy's weekly data newsletter. This week we explore real-time data from the meter and the case for reform. The costs and benefits of real-time meter data Energy consumers don’t need or want real-time energy data. So goes the argument from almost all of Australia’s energy networks and retailers. Regardless, Australia’s energy regulation machine rolls on and at some point they’ll be forced to enable it. The question is, what will happen in the interim? Next month...
3 days ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: Community battery challenges Pumped for another acronym NAIDOC Week means business Seven-year mission unplugged Community group Village Power was an early winner of a grant for a genuine neighbourhood battery. But seven years and 1500 volunteer hours on from the inception of the project, after encountering commercial, insurance and other barriers, the battery is yet to be purchased. Village Power’s goal is “100% local renewable energy...
4 days ago • 9 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: WDRM up for review Green hydrogen back on Underwriting offshore wind Demand response is having a moment Later this week, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) will report on the effectiveness of the Wholesale Demand Response Mechanism (WDRM). Launched in October 2021 to allow third party demand response aggregators to compete with big energy companies in the NEM, its early results were underwhelming. The big gentailers have been...
5 days ago • 8 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: Call to reform NEM governance New energy powered by a centuries-old business model Selling the transition, one REZ at a time Climb out of a centralised quagmire A green paper released by the Energy Efficiency Council warns current markets in the NEM are not, on their own, sufficient to drive optimisation of investment and operation of supply- and demand-side measures. NEM Governance Reform: Options for the Future Electricity System points...
8 days ago • 9 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: Economists put net zero above cost in transition Potent exposure to methane emissions VNI West delay will bite Countering the least-cost bias The net zero goal matters more than the cost when transforming Australia’s energy system, according to a poll of leading economists. Asked to identify the most important of three goals for the future energy system, 18 of the 40 polled in the latest Economic Society of Australia survey picked getting...
9 days ago • 9 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy's weekly data newsletter. This week we kick off our quarterly review of energy market data. June quarter shows grid transition’s pitfalls, progress Australia’s two main electricity grids added more renewables to the energy mix in the June quarter, but a familiar early winter freeze, wind drought and coal plant failure on the east coast set prices soaring and teeth on edge in late May and June. Across the quarter, wind, solar and battery storage increased...
10 days ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: Bowen eyes east coast gas reservation Heads up for uncontracted energy users Energy Independence Day Gas review seeks quick turnaround The federal government “opened” a six-month review of gas market regulations, after more than a year of legwork, to examine: The Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM) The Gas Market Code The Heads of Agreement with major east coast gas exporters. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris...
11 days ago • 9 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy. In today's edition: The productivity case for planning reform Trading barbs over Marinus Retail sector primed for energy switch Productivity stuck in the queue Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood says productivity growth isn’t about working harder or just "having more stuff”. It’s also about making it quicker and easier to build clean energy infrastructure. Some actionable insights on planning reform for Environment Minister Murray Watt are also...
12 days ago • 8 min read