News & Discussion: Electricity Infrastructure

[rhino]

It's pretty simple. Coal and gas plants need long lives to pay off their capital. A coal plant of $700m requires $20m per year plus interest for a 35 year life, but $140m per year plus interest for a 5 year life. A 5 year life requiring that amount of cash flow is way more expensive than renewables, subsidies or no.

However, renewables are coming down in price so fast that no bank or pension fund will provide loans for 35 years. Simply no way. So, new coal plants are now unable to attract funding unless there's a government guarantee. Why should governments provide that guarantee when it means keeping open coal plants likely to be very expensive?

So, coal plants are closing because bankers and pension funds won't touch them.

So, either governments subsidise renewables for four or five years to build up capacity as coal declines, or we put up with shortages till the market catches up.

Basically, it's either subsidise renewables, or put up with power shortages till the renewable price comes down. Coal is no option because no one will fund them. (Unless the taxpayer can be conned into doing something other financiers will not).

Good explanation. Thanks for that.

[SBD]

The Alinta OCGT power station at Reeves Plains has now received development approval.
https://www.alintaenergy.com.au/about-u ... n-proposal

See my previous post at https://www.sensational-adelaide.com/fo ... 82#p163782

With the application process now complete, this key milestone will allow us to continue to progress the development of a detailed investment case that would ultimately be considered by the Alinta Energy Board.

I found it interesting that this approval still has quite a tentative tone in the announcement, not "yes, we're starting ASAP".

[PeFe]

Another small virtual power plant proposed for Adelaide.

From Renew Economy

1
Simply Energy chooses Tesla for 8MW Adelaide virtual power plant



The city of Adelaide is rapidly becoming the global centre of virtual power plants, with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency announcing plans to support a rollout of an 8MW project by the retailer Simply Energy.

The proposal to link 1200 Adelaide households with 6MW of storage and another 2MW of demand response capacity in local businesses represents the fourth VPP to be announced or rolled out in the last two years.

And it represents yet another coup for Tesla, whose Powerwall 2 battery storage units will be used by Simply Energy. It follows the decision by AGL to switch to Tesla Powerwall 2 and LG Chem batteries for its 5MW VPP, and Tesla’s own plans for a 250MW VPP dubbed the world’s biggest.

The future of that project is unclear since the change of government in the March 17 poll, with the new Liberals premier Steve Marshall saying the initial rollout of 5kW of solar and the 13.5kWh Powerwall 2 units to 1100 low income homes will be delivered, but leaving doubt over the bigger plan to extend it to another 49,000 homes

Full article : http://reneweconomy.com.au/simply-energ ... ant-77170/

[Spurdo]

March/April update

Port Augusta Solar Storage Project (50MW + 300MWh Storage)
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... nergy_.pdf

Twin Creek Wind Farm (185 MW + 215MWh Storage)
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Creek.pdf

Tailem Bend Solar Project (100MW + 100MWh Storage)
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... n_Form.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... c_2017.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... iginal.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... upport.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... _Title.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... awings.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... etails.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... t_Plan.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... ssment.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... licies.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... b_2018.pdf
-https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov ... h_2018.pdf

[PeFe]

The Wattle Point wind farm battery (30 MW) is now due to open in June, instead of May.
This new battery will provide frequency control services and sell electricity back into the grid 2-3 times a day (similar to the Tesla big battery at Jamestown)
Also will be able to isolate Yorke Peninsula from grid blackouts.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-austr ... lay-29382/


Infigen Energy have applied for permission to install a 25 MW battery at the Lake Bonney wind farm.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/infigen-loo ... arm-58083/


Solar Reserve want to build a 70 MW solar farm next to the proposed Aurora solar thermal tower at Port Augusta.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/solarreserv ... wer-46154/

[PeFe]

Good article from Renew Economy expalining the Tesla big battery's role in the frequency/ancillary electrical services market.

The stunning numbers behind success of Tesla big battery



The Tesla’s big battery in South Australia has already taken a 55 per cent share in the state’s frequency and ancillary services market, and lowered prices in that market by 90 per cent, new data has shown.

Full article : https://reneweconomy.com.au/the-stunnin ... ery-63917/

[PeFe]

New proposal for a 180 MW wind farm near Kapunda (with a starter battery of 50 MW)

https://reneweconomy.com.au/res-eyes-21 ... arm-99412/

[PeFe]

The South Australian Liberal have reconfirmed today at the Adelaide battery storage conference their commitment to the energy transition to renewables.
Also they may "borrow" Labor's idea of a large home battery network becoming the backbone of a large "virtual" power plant.
From Renew Economy

https://reneweconomy.com.au/sa-liberals ... ies-93367/

And Snjeev Gupta says he is committed to build 1,000 MW of renewable energy in South Australia over the coming years.
From Renew Economy

https://reneweconomy.com.au/gupta-says- ... lia-56384/

[Waewick]

The South Australian Liberal have reconfirmed today at the Adelaide battery storage conference their commitment to the energy transition to renewables.
Also they may "borrow" Labor's idea of a large home battery network becoming the backbone of a large "virtual" power plant.
From Renew Economy

https://reneweconomy.com.au/sa-liberals ... ies-93367/

And Snjeev Gupta says he is committed to build 1,000 MW of renewable energy in South Australia over the coming years.
From Renew Economy

https://reneweconomy.com.au/gupta-says- ... lia-56384/

I think this is good news, despite many people here screaming blue murder about the Libs they have shown a sensible position in continuing something that was already contracted and started by the former Government.

just goes to show that Marshall isn't as bad as expected.

[Llessur2002]

Following on from the above:

Tesla household batteries in SA get green light as Sanjeev Gupta reveals electric car factory plan

South Australia will push ahead with a plan to install battery systems built by Elon Musk's Tesla in 50,000 homes, with the new State Government committing to continue the pro-battery agenda of its predecessor.

The Weatherill Labor government announced the Tesla policy in February, declaring it would install battery and solar systems free of charge to create the world's "largest virtual power plant" and slash energy bills.

The plan shared similarities with a Liberal policy allowing battery storage units in 40,000 homes, and it was unclear which of the two policies would be adopted following the election of Liberal Premier Steven Marshall.

But in a speech at the Australian Energy Storage Conference, Energy Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the Government would implement both.

"It's very important to be clear about this — we are honouring the existing commitments around the Tesla virtual power plant (VPP)," he said.

"The VPP project is currently proceeding with the two trial phases as planned. The trial phases involve installation of home energy systems on 1,100 Housing SA homes.

"These are supported by a $2 million grant and a $30 million loan from the State Government.

"Subject to private finance, and the first two phases' success, the third phase could grow to up to 50,000 home batteries connected to new solar installations, and this is in addition to our government's 40,000 home election commitment."

Mr van Holst Pellekaan said his first meeting after being sworn in was with Tesla, and wants the state to become a world leader in home battery installation.

"Very simply, a Liberal Government in South Australia means more, not fewer, batteries," he said. "We'll show the world how the mass adoption of home batteries can and will work.

"This is a complicated task — I don't think that anyone has attempted to do what we're about to do at this scale relative to population and market size."

Mr van Holst Pellekaan was also full of praise for Tesla's giant lithium ion battery near Jamestown.

"Within the first month of it being installed, it helped to smooth out two major trips," he said.

"I'm very glad Tesla is working with our Government. It's a great partnership shining a spotlight on South Australia."

The Energy Minister added that gas would become a "less necessary" component of SA's energy mix as storage technology evolved and improved.The energy conference also heard from Whyalla steelworks boss Sanjeev Gupta, who wants to turn his company GFG Alliance into one of the nation's biggest energy providers.

The British billionaire outlined plans for a massive 10 gigawatts of solar energy, saying the proposal would be backed up by a huge grid-scale battery and pumped hydro dams.

The latest announcement is for 10 times as much power production as previously flagged.

"Our largest investments will be in solar. We have stated 1,000 megawatts in South Australia," he said.

"We have some ambitions in other industries … depending on that we could be as much as 10 gigawatts of solar across the country," Mr Gupta said.

He said GFG also has plans to build an electric car factory, which could provide another option for household energy storage.

"Taking solar, generating your own energy, then using your car battery as your house battery to basically store that energy," he said.

"We are looking at setting the plant up, we will definitely do it. Whether it's here or another part of the country is subject to what conditions are best for that production."

From: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-24/t ... ls/9794486

[Norman]

Excellent news that this project is continuing.

[Nort]

Yup, awesome news.

[kenget]

To me the following quote from Mr Guptu seems to be referring to the SA Government, maybe he is after some incentives.

"We are looking at setting the plant up, we will definitely do it. Whether it's here or another part of the country is subject to what conditions are best for that production."

The last thing we would want is for another state to lure this opportunity. Hope the Libs act quickly here.

[PeFe]

Adani (yes, the coal people) are still yet to give the final go ahead to their Whyalla solar farm project.

Have they have been 'spooked" by Sanjeev Gupta's promise of 1000MW of new renewable energy for South Australia?

When Adani announced the solar farm I wondered whether they had the intention of selling the output to the Arrium Steel Works, but now Sanjeev Gupta has put his own plans in place, maybe Adani was considering selling directly to Olympic Dam, but i would not be surprised if Gupta is thinking along the same lines.

At this time I believe no retailer has been found for the Whyalla solar farm output...they could always just build it and sell on spec (the "spot" market)
Anyway I hope it goes ahead...the more electricity generation the better the chances of the price coming down.....or export it east gaining money for the state.

From the Whyalla News

Solar farm in the balance

Adani Australia say they will make a final decision on whether their $200 million Whyalla Solar Farm project moves forward in the third quarter of this year.

The proposed solar farm would generate 300,000MWh of power each year and create up to 150 jobs for the steel city at the peak of construction.

Adani have obtained State Government planning approval for the solar farm, which could be built in Whyalla Barson to the south of the Whyalla Conservation Park.

Representatives from the company recently met with the Whyalla City Council elected members to further outline their plans for the project.

Adani Australia Renewables CEO, Jennifer Purdie, said the council and state government should be commended for their partnership approach to delivering solar energy to the community.

“Thanks to the support of the Whyalla Council and the South Australian Government we received development approvals late last year, which put us in a positive position to progress design work and commercial negotiations,” she said.

“Planning and negotiation stages are expected to continue through to the end of 2018 with the intent to contribute to South Australia’s energy mix so that it is affordable, reliable and secure energy for industry and the wider community.

“We look forward to continuing our consultation and partnership with the local community as we progress the project towards delivery stages.”

CEO Chris Cowley said the City of Whyalla was ‘keen to see the project go ahead’ and encouraged by the progress to date.

“This proposed solar farm would be a further boost for Whyalla and our reputation as an emerging renewable power hub in South Australia,” Mr Cowley said.

Full article : https://www.whyallanewsonline.com.au/st ... e-balance/

[PeFe]

Suburban shopping centres installing solar panels cutting energy costs....no doubt many small business owners will soon be treading the same path.

From Renew Economy

Adelaide shopping centres take Gupta’s lead, in 1MW shift to solar

Four Adelaide shopping centres have installed a total of 1MW of rooftop solar in project led by the Australian energy offshoot of UK steel billionaire Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance.

SIMEC ZEN Energy, an Adelaide-based company that became majority owned by Gupta in September 2017, said on Wednesday that it had installed more than 3,000 PV panels across the Mitcham, Bayside, Mawson Lakes and Marden shopping centres.

The suburban Adelaide shopping centres, owned by prominent local property developer Andrew Taplin, join a major shift to clean energy in the retail sector, that has seen dozens of shopping centres and malls install solar, nationwide.

Among the biggest and most recent examples, ASX-listed retail asset manager Vicinity Centres announced the roll-out of more than 11MW of solar in a $28 million project that will incorporate five shopping centres across Western Australia and South Australia – enough to generate 17.4GWh of energy a year.

Full article : https://reneweconomy.com.au/adelaide-sh ... lar-43565/