Posts By Richard Chirgwin On SolarQuotes

New Behind-The-Meter Data Guidelines Could Reduce Solar Export Restrictions

April 29, 2020 2020-04-30T19:14:40 by 3 Comments
Behind the meter data

To integrate solar power into the grid more efficiently, the grid operators need to know what’s happening with your solar system. That means looking behind your meter.

With 9GW of solar PV installed, Australia’s enthusiastic embrace of household renewables is starting to bump into system capacity issues. As I wrote last week discussing the advent of the two-sided market, the time is coming where the energy sector will need to be able to reach behind the meter and manage the consumer-side resources such as rooftop generated solar electricity. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Innovations

COAG Energy Council Wants To Expose Consumers To Wholesale Energy Price

April 22, 2020 2020-04-22T13:29:06 by 12 Comments

COAG Energy Security Board - a two-sided market

The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council has issued a consultation paper designed to inform the NEM’s transition to a two-sided market. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Electricity Prices

‘Solar Lamp’ Social Enterprise Pollinate Needs Our Help For Its COVID-19 Work

April 14, 2020 2020-04-17T18:11:56 by 1 Comment
Pollinate Group, solar lights and COVID-19

Pollinate Group distribute solar lights in India & Nepal. Those communities are being hit hard by COVID-19.

Regular readers will recall that SolarQuotes is a supporter of a remarkable enterprise called Pollinate Group, which supports communities in Nepal and India with solar lamps (comprising a 3.3 watt solar panel, a 3000mAh battery, 165 lumen LED and 2 USB charging ports)  to replace unpleasant and dangerous kerosene lamps. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar and the Environment

AEMO Judgement On SA VPPs: Yes, They Help The Grid And Turn A Profit

March 30, 2020 2020-03-30T13:50:13 by 3 Comments
South Australia VPP - tesla powerwall 2

The Tesla VPP in South Australia networks thousands of residential Powerwall batteries to work together, support the grid and make money. How did it go in its first 12 months? Pretty good.

South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant isn’t just delivering electricity to consumers in that state – it’s also proven successful at helping the SA grid respond to grid-scale events. And that grid-response is a profitable sideline for the VPP. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Battery Storage

A View From The UK: Consumer-Friendly Services Vital To Reach Net-Zero

March 23, 2020 2024-05-15T14:38:49 by 2 Comments
Net zero carbon emissions in the UK

The UK is moving much faster than Australia towards net zero emissions. What can we learn from the Poms?

I’m often wary when I hear someone say “regulation is getting in the way of innovation”, because it’s so often led to disastrous deregulation of things that matter – public safety, building regulation, product safety and the like. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Solar Policy

AC? DC! Why SunCable Chose DC To Export Aussie Sun to Singapore

March 16, 2020 2020-03-16T10:12:53 by 13 Comments
Sun Cable and HVDC

Millions of solar panels sending Australian solar energy to Singapore via a 3,800 km cable. Crazy or genius?

I first learned about how the electricity grid works in the early 1980s, which meant I was taught the conventional wisdom of the times: high-voltage AC (alternating current) transmission was ubiquitous because it was the most efficient way to send electricity the long distances needed by the electricity grid. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Big Solar

Build It And They Will Come: Transmission Key To 100% Renewable Energy

March 5, 2020 2020-03-05T12:29:09 by 26 Comments
transmission lines

ANU’s Professor Andrew Blakers says we need to build out transmission lines urgently.

If you wanted to block the expansion of renewable energy, a good place to start is to put bureaucratic roadblocks in the way of new, long distance electricity transmission infrastructure.

Discussing his participation in last week’s 100% renewable energy workshop at ANU, the university’s Professor Andrew Blakers told SolarQuotes transmission is the biggest short-term problem facing renewables in Australia. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Big Solar

100% Renewables Is Hard – But 96% Is Easy Says Windlab’s David Osmond

March 4, 2020 2020-03-04T06:12:34 by 10 Comments
96% Renewable Energy In Australia

The road to 96% renewables is relatively cheap and easy. So let’s crack on!

A common delaying tactic of the enemies of our environment is to repeatedly remind us getting to 100% renewables, even for electricity generation, is difficult and expensive.

100% renewable is expensive, says Windlab’s David Osmond – but getting nearly all the way there, 96%, is easy and relatively cheap. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Economics Of Solar

AEMC Wants Your Ideas On Grid-Integrated EVs

February 26, 2020 2024-05-15T12:56:15 by 22 Comments
Integrating EVs into the mains grid

The Australian Energy Market Commission is thinking about how EVs will affect the grid.

About ten years ago when I first heard about the idea of grid-integrated electric vehicles, I thought it was far-fetched. It seemed odd to think that someone would charge an EV only to send that electricity back to the grid. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Electric Vehicles

How To Get A Credit Refund From Your Electricity Company

February 24, 2020 2021-01-27T14:42:12 by 80 Comments
Electricity retailer credit refund

If you expect your energy retailer to send you any money they owe you without you asking for it, you may be disappointed.

A reader’s email last week led me down too many rabbit holes, but I think it was worth it. The reader asked us to look into how electricity companies handle refunds of customer credits accumulated under solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs). Can customers get credit refunds automatically, and what happens to credits at the end of a contract? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Electricity Prices
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