Sometimes the Sun Don’t Shine … Enough

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It’s been a depressing wet week with a great deal of cloud cowl right here in Brisbane, Queensland. And you recognize what, the naysayers have been proper, typically the solar don’t shine. Or at the very least, doesn’t shine sufficient. This week, for the primary time in months, I’ve had to make use of grid energy to cost my automotive and warmth my scorching water. Chilly showers are such a drag! Anyway, it’s Saturday morning and the solar is out once more, with the photo voltaic panels sucking up the electrons and powering the home as soon as extra!

Let’s take a look at some excellent news!

Though COP OUT appears to be a failure by mainstream media stories, progress is being made in Australia. Sure, extra may very well be achieved. Sure, we’re dragging the chain. However I’m making an attempt to focus on the optimistic. A report launched in Baku by the Renewable Energy Council signifies that Australia is making some progress. Though, I count on it should too little to avoid wasting our Pacific Island neighbours. Renewable vitality funding since 2015 has decreased Australia’s emissions by 30% in comparison with what they’d have been if we had continued our reliance on coal energy. You may entry the total report here.

Highlights embody the information that 40 GW of recent rooftop and large-scale renewable vitality capability has been deployed throughout Australia up to now decade. This raises the share of renewables from 16% to nearly 40% in 2023, avoiding 200 million tons of greenhouse gasoline emissions. With giant quantities of “new generation currently under construction, we expect this total saving to rise to more than 340 million tonnes by the end of 2025…. That is equivalent to reducing the emissions from all of Australia’s cars, light commercial vehicles, and aeroplanes to zero.”

By 2026, “it is expected that renewable generation will be more than three times greater than it was in 2015 and its share of overall generation will be around 48 per cent.” Nonetheless, the report acknowledges that there’s “substantial work to do, and an acceleration in the roll-out of renewable energy is needed if we are to achieve Australia’s 82 per cent renewable electricity generation target by the end of 2030.” In the mean time, Australia is on the right track to succeed in 60% by 2030.

A few of Australia’s electrical energy technology comes from the burning of “dirty” brown coal. There was a shift away from brown coal, which has introduced some discount in emissions. The report notes that “gas has contracted and not delivered any emission reductions.”

There may be some concern that will increase in emissions from the transport sector are cancelling out the beneficial properties within the electrical energy technology sector. As transport strikes to electrical energy by way of battery-powered vans and vehicles, considerations ought to be allayed. Progress in this area has been slowwith uptake in Australia dipping beneath 10% plugin car penetration regardless of the introduction of many new fashions. Add to that the rise in dimension of autos provided to the market (some name them diesel city tanks) and the issue is compounded. Australia is slowly introducing and changing extra BEV vans and buses. Then there would be the query of coaching the system to cost when there’s a surplus of renewable vitality or putting in a battery. All points that may be handled over time.

In a associated report, Australia’s Power Market Operator (AEMO) has launched a plan to transition the Australian vitality market to internet zero by 2050.

AEMO’s Integrated System Plan affirms “that renewable energy connected with transmission and distribution, firmed with storage, and backed up by gas-powered generation is the lowest-cost way to supply electricity to homes and businesses as Australia transitions to a net zero economy.” And notes: “Urgency to renew the NEM is being driven by the progressive closure of Australia’s remaining coal-fired power stations. Ten large coal-fired power stations have closed since 2012, and the ISP projects that 90% of today’s capacity will be closed by 2035 and all before 2040.”

“The ISP is a roadmap to navigate Australia’s power system through the energy transition, providing Australians with reliable electricity at the lowest cost,” stated AEMO CEO Daniel Westerman. I’d hope that they’ll transfer a bit of quicker. I don’t count on to be round in 2050 and wish to see this transition in my lifetime.

Right here’s a pattern of what’s taking place Down Beneath to progress the rEVolution:

AGL, whose greatest shareholder is Mike Cannon-Brookes (bear in mind him?), has introduced to the Australian inventory market that it’s shopping for Agency Energy and Terrain Photo voltaic.

“Firm Power is a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) developer with 21 projects in development, and Terrain Solar is a solar project developer with 6 projects in development.”

The mixed improvement pipeline (8.1 gigawatts) of the group contains:

• 6.1 GW of grid-scale BESS initiatives throughout: New South Wales (2.3 GW), Queensland (2.7 GW), Victoria (0.3 GW), Western Australia (0.5GW) and South Australia (0.3 GW).
• 1.8 GW of photo voltaic initiatives throughout: New South Wales (0.5 GW), Queensland (1.1 GW) Western Australia (0.1 GW) and South Australia (<0.1 GW).
• 250 MW onshore wind undertaking in New South Wales.

“The Group’s development pipeline includes several mid-sized BESS projects, ranging between 200 and 500MW and two-to-eight-hours storage duration.”

It’s price noting that the majority of the initiatives are in storage, with much less emphasis on technology.

AGL’s Managing Director and CEO, Damien Nicks, said: “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to grow and accelerate our development pipeline, which is already 6.2 GW, so that AGL is best placed to take advantage of market conditions and prioritise developments that generate the best long-term value and be a leader in the energy transition.” So, AGL can have a mixed pipeline of renewable vitality initiatives totalling 14.2 GW.

This announcement comes from Australia’s presently greatest producer of coal-fired energy technology. AGL can also be constructing a 5,090 MW, 1,000 MWh battery on the website of the Liddell energy station which it closed final 12 months. Different large batteries are being inbuilt NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, with pumped hydro initiatives in Victoria and NSW.

For individuals who need the larger image, Renew Economic system gives a map of all battery projects in Australia — color coded for working, development, introduced, or proposed.

Are we getting someplace? Sure, we’re. We simply must go quicker to satisfy our targets. Will we be capable to reverse the local weather change trajectory of temperature rises, climate crises, and sea stage rise? I doubt it. Now it’s a combat for the perfect end result.