News

Booming renewables industry halves wholesale power prices

Published

3 months ago

January 25, 2024

Renewable energy’s rapid expansion significantly slashed wholesale power prices in the national energy grid during the latter part of last year.

Prices dropped by more than half in the final quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year, primarily due to the surge in power generated from large-scale renewables and rooftop solar installations.

For a few hours on New Year’s Eve, South Australia achieved a remarkable feat by relying entirely on rooftop solar panels to meet its energy needs.

A recent report from the Australian Energy Market Operator underscores the increasing significance of renewables in the energy grid, with renewable sources accounting for up to 72% of the total power demand on the east coast during specific intervals over the three-month period.

Regional variations

However, power demand and wholesale prices exhibited regional variations, with Queensland and New South Wales experiencing higher prices compared to South Australia and Victoria.

This disparity can be attributed to an unusually warm spring and summer in some regions of the country.

The national energy market encompasses all states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

AEMO’s CEO, Daniel Westerman, emphasized that renewables will continue to exert a growing influence on the energy grid.

He stated, “We are regularly seeing records set for the higher contribution of renewables and lower levels of energy drawn from the grid because of rooftop solar.”

Westerman also highlighted the potential for renewables to push the spot price of power below zero, particularly during daylight hours.

Throughout the three-month period, the spot price in the national energy market was at or below zero approximately one-fifth of the time. AEMO predicts that such opportunities will become crucial in the coming years, particularly as pumped hydro projects like Snowy 2.0 rely on affordable energy to pump water uphill.

News

The EV transformation expands to legacy vehicles

Published

7 hours ago

April 29, 2024

ticker NEWS

This week witnessed another milestone in the automotive industry as the legendary Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen embarked on its electric journey, aligning with global sustainability efforts.

Simultaneously, Toyota and Mazda debuted EV offerings tailored for the booming Chinese market, signalling a strategic shift towards collaboration with advanced Chinese partners.

While the electric G-Wagen promises both eco-friendliness and off-road prowess with its innovative design, questions arise about Japanese automakers’ perceived lag in EV development, countered by the strategic imperative to tap into the rapidly growing Chinese EV market. As automotive icons embrace electrification and traditional players adapt through partnerships, it’s clear that collaboration and innovation will drive the future of mobility.

News

The degree dilemma, income shifts, debt, and dream homes

Published

7 hours ago

April 29, 2024

ticker NEWS

As individuals face the daunting choice between paying off student debt, saving for a first home deposit, or exploring alternative options like rentvesting, careful consideration of various factors becomes imperative.

In the midst of these challenges, a couple in the inner north ingeniously employed a strategy to realise their dream of a larger home while managing HECS debt and affordability hurdles.

Rentvesting emerges as a viable solution for individuals grappling with the burdens of high HECS debt and property affordability issues.

Moreover, the decreasing income premium tied to a university degree is closely intertwined with changing economic dynamics and shifts in the job market, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to education and financial planning in today’s society.

News

President Biden signs TikTok bill – what’s next?

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

ticker NEWS

TikTok users could soon find that the popular social media service is either under new ownership or could be outright banned in the United States.

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that requires TikTok to find a new owner—or face a ban in the United States.

Over the past several months, Washington D.C. has been under pressure to ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app.

Lawmakers and security experts have long raised concerns that the Chinese government could tap TikTok’s trove of personal data about millions of U.S. users.

TikTok’s CEO said the bill is disappointing and reiterated that the company has committed to challenge it.

David Zhang from China Insider. joins Veronica Dudo to discuss