[Update 3] NSW Scheduled Demand up past 13,500MW and Reserve Margin drops

Following the 06:10 first post and update at 11:10 I’ve included this snapshot of NEM-Watch from 14:00 NEM time (so 15:00 in Sydney):

2017-02-10-at-14-00-NEMWatch-lowIRPMinNSW

Many different observations could be made, but here are four:

1)  NSW Scheduled Demand up at 13,510MW in this dispatch interval (when compared to the 14,649MW all-time record when measured on same “Dispatch Target” basis).

2)  Demand forecast to peak up at 14,722MW in the 16:30 Trading Period (i.e. the half-hour ending 17:30 in Sydney); and

3)  Instantaneous Reserve Plant Margin in the QLD+NSW “Economic Island” down to only 12% – and forecast to go much lower (as noted on the snapshot there is only 2,712MW of spare capacity across both NSW and QLD);

4)   A Market Notice issued for the Victorian region highlights the effect that hot weather can have on many technologies used in the electricity grid:

(a)  Maximum outputs of large thermal power stations, and their efficiencies, are reduced because of high ambient temperature;

(b)  Capacity on power lines is reduced because of the high temperatures due to sag on the lines – and other challenges, such as flagged in the Market Notice highlighted above;

(c)  Air-conditioning driven electricity consumption increases (obviously);

(d)  Outputs of some solar panels might suffer at extreme temperatures;

(e)  Battery storage facilities have high temperature protection systems to protect against overheating and fire etc… (more on this later at www.BatteryStorage.info)

A stressful day for all concerned.

One would expect more maturity from our DIS”honourable” representatives than the puerile name calling and finger pointing that continues today:

2017-02-10-tweet-JayWeatherill

As noted on Wednesday, all politicians should be hanging their heads in shame


About the Author

Paul McArdle
One of three founders of Global-Roam back in 2000, Paul has been CEO of the company since that time. As an author on WattClarity, Paul's focus has been to help make the electricity market more understandable.

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