Eraring Closure Replacement <<$

[Sparty]

Main points of the article: https://www.theguardian.com/australi...en-expert-says

New South Wales can avoid electricity shortages without paying hundreds of millions of dollars to keep Australia’s biggest coal-fired power plant open after a spurt of renewable energy and battery approvals and weak demand growth, a new report argues.

1. NSW can avoid electricity shortages without keeping Eraring open:

Recent surge in renewable energy and battery projects will provide enough capacity after Eraring closes in 2025.

Government policies are supporting renewables and storage, making them more viable alternatives.

2. NSW is leading in battery storage development:

Several large-scale battery projects are already underway or approved, including the Waratah Super Battery and Origin's Eraring battery.

This will help address concerns about grid stability during peak demand periods.

3. Wind energy projects are also picking up pace:

The Hills of Gold windfarm received approval, and Uungula windfarm construction has begun.
A strong pipeline of 50GW of firmed renewables is in the works, further bolstering the grid.

4. Methane gas peaking capacity is increasing:

Tallawarra B plant commenced operations, and Hunter Power Project is nearing completion.
These plants can provide quick bursts of power during critical moments.
5. Challenges remain, but solutions are emerging:

A heatwave event and Mt Piper outage highlighted potential grid vulnerability.
However, government actions and market trends suggest the risk of post-Eraring shortages is diminishing.

6. Electricity demand is growing slower than expected:

2023 saw only 0.6% growth, significantly below AEMO's forecasts.
This reduces pressure on the grid and makes renewable energy integration easier.

7. Rooftop solar and distributed solar are on the rise:

Falling panel prices and high retail electricity costs are driving adoption.
This further diversifies the energy mix and reduces reliance on traditional sources.

8. 5MW solar plants with batteries are gaining traction:

These "solar soakers" can generate and store power for peak demand periods, increasing grid flexibility. Faster rollout of these units is expected in the coming years.

Overall, the article argues that NSW has a strong path towards avoiding electricity shortages despite Eraring's closure. This is largely due to rapid investments in renewable energy, battery storage, and other clean technologies.

[Sparty]

NSW, Victoria and SA reached record minimum electricity demands in the quarter.


Distributed solar output reached its highest year-on-year growth in the September quarter. Images: Aemo