Renewable energy in Australia – 20% by 2020: can this be achieved?

The Federal Government has proposed both the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and Renewable Energy Target as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the deployment of clean and renewable energy technologies. As we have seen by the reduction targets proposed, the Government is still giving priority to economic considerations over environmental concerns. The 20% target proposed has been quantified at 45,000 GWh, an increase of 35,500 GWh above the current required target of 9,500 GWh by 2010. Whilst there is no doubt that Australia has sufficient resources to meet this goal, the questions that need to be answered are whether the policies proposed by the Government will be sufficient to drive private investment into this sector, whether the technology to be relied upon will be able to deliver within the time frame set and whether there is or will be sufficient infrastructure to meet this goal. These issues cut across a number of disciplines including environmental, engineering and economic analysis. This paper highlights those issues which will require greater research and discussion between industry, society and all levels of government to ensure that we are able to meet the targets set and demonstrate on an international basis that as a country we are now willing to address global concerns

Resilience and electricity systems: a comparative analysis

Electricity systems have generally evolved based on the natural resources available locally. Few metrics exist to compare the security of electricity supply of different countries despite the increasing likelihood of potential shocks to the power system like energy price increases and carbon price regulation. This paper seeks to calculate a robust measure of national power system resilience by analysing each step in the process of transformation from raw energy to consumed electricity. Countries with sizeable deposits of mineral resources are used for comparison because of the need for electricity-intensive metals processing. We find that shifts in electricity-intensive industry can be predicted based on countries’ power system resilience.Electricity; resilience; energy security

Market and Economic Modelling of the Intelligent Grid: Interim Report 2011

The overall goal of Project 2 has been to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of distributed energy (DG) on the Australian Electricity System. The research team at the UQ Energy Economics and Management Group (EEMG) has constructed a variety of sophisticated models to analyse the various impacts of significant increases in DG. These models stress that the spatial configuration of the grid really matters - this has tended to be neglected in economic discussions of the costs of DG relative to conventional, centralized power generation. The modelling also makes it clear that efficient storage systems will often be critical in solving transient stability problems on the grid as we move to the greater provision of renewable DG. We show that DG can help to defer of transmission investments in certain conditions. The existing grid structure was constructed with different priorities in mind and we show that its replacement can come at a prohibitive cost unless the capability of the local grid to accommodate DG is assessed very carefully.Distributed Generation. Energy Economics, Electricity Markets, Renewable Energy

Market and Economic Modelling of the Intelligent Grid: End of Year Report 2009

The overall goal of Project 2 has been to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of distributed energy (DG) on the Australian Electricity System. The research team at the UQ Energy Economics and Management Group (EEMG) has constructed a variety of sophisticated models to analyse the various impacts of significant increases in DG. These models stress that the spatial configuration of the grid really matters - this has tended to be neglected in economic discussions of the costs of DG relative to conventional, centralized power generation. The modelling also makes it clear that efficient storage systems will often be critical in solving transient stability problems on the grid as we move to the greater provision of renewable DG. We show that DG can help to defer of transmission investments in certain conditions. The existing grid structure was constructed with different priorities in mind and we show that its replacement can come at a prohibitive cost unless the capability of the local grid to accommodate DG is assessed very carefully.Distributed Generation. Energy Economics, Electricity Markets, Renewable Energy

Final Report: Market and Economic Modelling of the Intelligent Grid

The overall goal of Project 2 has been to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of distributed energy (DG) on the Australian Electricity System. The research team at the UQ Energy Economics and Management Group (EEMG) has constructed a variety of sophisticated models to analyse the various impacts of significant increases in DG. These models stress that the spatial configuration of the grid really matters - this has tended to be neglected in economic discussions of the costs of DG relative to conventional, centralized power generation. The modelling also makes it clear that efficient storage systems will often be critical in solving transient stability problems on the grid as we move to the greater provision of renewable DG. We show that DG can help to defer of transmission investments in certain conditions. The existing grid structure was constructed with different priorities in mind and we show that its replacement can come at a prohibitive cost unless the capability of the local grid to accommodate DG is assessed very carefully.Distributed Generation. Energy Economics, Electricity Markets, Renewable Energy

Storage - the necessity for a Smart-Grid

Energy policy is driving renewable energy deployment with most of the developed countries having some form of renewable energy portfolio standard and emissions reduction target. To deliver upon these ambitious targets, those renewable energy technologies that are commercially available, such as wind and solar, are being deployed, but inherently have issues with intermittency of supply. To overcome these issues, storage options will need to be introduced into the distribution network with benefits for both demand management and power systems quality. How this can be utilised most effectively within the distribution network will allow for an even greater proportion of our energy demand to be met through renewable resources and meet the aspirational targets set. The distribution network will become a network of smart-grids, but to work efficiently and effectively, power quality issues surrounding intermittency must be overcome, with storage being a major factor in this solution

Intellegent Grid Research Cluster - Project 2: marketing and economic modelling of the impacts of distributed generation

The overall goal of Project 2 has been to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of distributed energy (DG) on the Australian Electricity System. The research team at the UQ Energy Economics and Management Group (EEMG) has constructed a variety of sophisticated models to analyse the various impacts of significant increases in DG. These models stress that the spatial configuration of the grid really matters - this has tended to be neglected in economic discussions of the costs of DG relative to conventional, centralized power generation. The modelling also makes it clear that efficient storage systems will often be critical in solving transient stability problems on the grid as we move to the greater provision of renewable DG. We show that DG can help to defer of transmission investments in certain conditions. The existing grid structure was constructed with different priorities in mind and we show that its replacement can come at a prohibitive cost unless the capability of the local grid to accommodate DG is assessed very carefully

Renewable energy in Australia: 20 per cent by 2020: Can this be achieved?

Purpose: The Australian Government has proposed a portfolio standard requiring 20 per cent of electricity to be supplied by renewable energy. It has introduced a number of policy measures to drive this target; however based on the resources and commercially available technology is this enough? This paper aims to look at the application of both Federal and State measures and to determine whether this will drive the deployment of technology at the rate required to meet the targets set. Design/methodology/approach: Research and modelling was undertaken on the anticipated generation technologies (based on proposed policy measures and commercial availability of the technology), which indicate a shortfall in renewable generation by 2018. Findings: The findings indicate that additional policy measures will be required to meet the objectives set. These measures will need to be introduced at a State level where the policy measure can target those renewable resources in which the State has both an economic and abundant supply. Practical implications: Within any country (particularly one the size of Australia) different regions will have different renewable resources and policy will need to target those resources in which the region has an abundant and economically viable supply. Originality/value: Currently all discussion in relation to policy measures to combat global warming issues within Australia has been focused at the Federal level. The paper highlights the need to focus policy at State level when looking at deploying technology at specific renewable resources