Future of the Australian Electricity Market

[NeilS]

Any comments on the Qld pumped hydro plan?

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces $62b clean energy plan including '''world'''s largest pumped hydro energy storage''' - ABC News

[Chris Parks]

Any comments on the Qld pumped hydro plan?

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces $62b clean energy plan including '''world'''s largest pumped hydro energy storage''' - ABC News

Where are her safety glasses, it seems every time I see a polly with a safety vest then they have to have safety specs as well. A bad look for pollys Madam Premier.

[GraemeCook]

... A bad look for pollys Madam Premier. ...

Impossible!

But safety debate reminds me of another issue. Why do sky divers were safety helmets? If the parachute fails to open, how do they know that they will land on their head?

[havabeer69]

I can see a time when all new buildings require solar on the roof and EV charging outlets irrespective of whether they are stand alone houses or appartments.
Paul

that time is now for the solar panels, I'm pretty sure most new builds to meet basix requirements pretty much mandate solar panels, or most people go solar panels as its one of the most affordable solutions

[Beardy]

that time is now for the solar panels, I'm pretty sure most new builds to meet basix requirements pretty much mandate solar panels, or most people go solar panels as its one of the most affordable solutions

Unless the requirements have recently changed there is no such requirement.
Meeting Basix is about building energy efficient homes and using energy efficient products. Solar electric systems are about offsetting the cost of using those items. To my knowledge the only solar device that reduces your basix score is solar hot water systems which are heating water not producing electricity

[woodPixel]

Such an interesting discussion. Thought provoking on many levels.

Makes me wonder why, for new houses, there isn't a simple integrated one-step solution.

A combo solar-panel, battery, aircon system. All standardised.

The battery could sit anywhere in the circuit, even atop or below the compressor unit.

I know I've discussed it before, but it feels STRANGE that these systems are all so... separate. It strikes me as reasonable that they should all connect with a fat cable with a common end, that anyone can just buy and ... plug in.


Even devices like the fridge. Why does it not have a fat battery pack in the bottom, to charge during cheap electrical hours, to use during expensive ones. So interesting.

[GraemeCook]

... Even devices like the fridge. Why does it not have a fat battery pack in the bottom, to charge during cheap electrical hours, to use during expensive ones. So interesting.

Great point.

There are tens of thousands of fridges and freezers in boats, caravans and campervans that are connected to a battery. They use 240 volt when available, and the battery at other times. The batteries are almost always relatively cheap lead acid type - you do not need expensive Li-Ion batteries. Recharging may be from any combination of boat or vehicles engine, solar, wind or mains power.

It should be relatively easy to do something similar with a domestic fridge.

[Beardy]

Price is most likely the barrier. 230v appliances are much cheaper that 12v equivalents but I suppose that would change if they became more popular
If electricity prices continue to get out of hand all these alternatives will start to look more attractive

[Bushmiller]

Any comments on the Qld pumped hydro plan?

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces $62b clean energy plan including '''world'''s largest pumped hydro energy storage''' - ABC News

Neil

It would be good to see a little more detail on the two proposed locations and to hear the output in "MW" terms rather than numbers of households. It is good that a state government is finally recognising the need for storage, but what is going to be done in the meantime as they will not be operational until the 2030s: Actually, if it proceeds at the same pace as Snowy 2 it could be the 2040s!

I heard a term for the prospects of existing coal fired stations and it was reffered to as "economic viability." It is important that viability remains in place until renewables can reliably supplant them or life as we know it will take a dramatic turn for the worse. Note I am not advocating longer lives of the fossil fired stations, but more focus on finding the alternatives: Something that is talked about ad nauseum, but is a trifle short on realistic solution.

Regards
Paul

[Chris Parks]

Such an interesting discussion. Thought provoking on many levels.

Makes me wonder why, for new houses, there isn't a simple integrated one-step solution.

A combo solar-panel, battery, aircon system. All standardised.

The battery could sit anywhere in the circuit, even atop or below the compressor unit.

I know I've discussed it before, but it feels STRANGE that these systems are all so... separate. It strikes me as reasonable that they should all connect with a fat cable with a common end, that anyone can just buy and ... plug in.


Even devices like the fridge. Why does it not have a fat battery pack in the bottom, to charge during cheap electrical hours, to use during expensive ones. So interesting.

Evan, the significant problem with all in one systems as you suggest is that when a component failure happens then nothing works. I think this is one reason why central ducted AC systems are not as popular as they once were, the failure of any major component kills the whole system where if a room AC fails the others in the house still operate as normal. I have both and if I was building today I wouldn't have a central ducted system for a bet. The same goes for CANBUS auto house controls which are all the rage amongst the hipsters these days, the idea is great until there is a central control failure then nothing works and I speak with experience on this unfortunately.

[doug3030]

Even devices like the fridge. Why does it not have a fat battery pack in the bottom, to charge during cheap electrical hours, to use during expensive ones. So interesting.

Along similar lines, I have a 40 ltr Engel fridge in the back of the ute with a bank of AGM batteries and solar panels mounted on the roof racks.

The fridge is always on. The alternator charges the batteries and runs the fridge when driving and the two solar panels on the roof racks do the same when the sun is shining. When we go shopping we can put all the cold items straight into the fridge and we do not have to hurry home to unpack them from the car even on the hottest days. Sometimes we even leave it till the next day. When we buy items that are bought hot and consumed cold (mainly drinks), we cool them in the car fridge and put them into the house fridge when cold, saving a little bit of energy.

We go camping once or twice a year for about a week's duration. We add another larger solar panel into the array and can run the Engel as a freezer for the week just on the solar panels. Over the years I would estimate we have recovered the cost of the fridge, batteries, solar panels and battery management system just in the price difference between buying drinks for road trips from the supermarkets instead of road houses, not to mention the convenience of having what you want when you want it.

[woodPixel]

Here is a side effect not often considered....

Exclusive: Europe braces for mobile network blackouts | Reuters

[woodPixel]

I'm not even LOOKING for articles any more... they are mainstream.

Here is a headline from today: Farmers are getting renewable Standalone Power Systems as Western Australia'''s regional power grid is dismantled - ABC News


Seems this might be rolling out significantly faster than we suspect.

[woodPixel]

Form Energy Raises $450 Million In Latest Funding Round - CleanTechnica

[russ57]

The cynical part of me says big business gets involved when big profits are involved which (can) mean big rip-offs...

On a similar vein did anyone see the article on "super profits" from network distribution companies... Energy networks garnered $10bn in ‘supernormal’ profits from consumers in eastern Australia | Energy | The Guardian