[LINK] Why power generators are terrified of solar

[Richard Chirgwin]

On 28/03/12 7:42 PM, Kim Holburn wrote:
> http://www.crikey.com.au/2012/03/27/why-generators-are-terrified-of-solar/
>
>> Here is a pair of graphs that demonstrate most vividly the merit order effect and the impact that solar is having on electricity prices in Germany; and why utilities there and elsewhere are desperate to try to rein in the growth of solar PV in Europe. It may also explain why Australian generators are fighting so hard against the extension of feed-in tariffs in this country.
>>
>> The first graph illustrates what a typical day on the electricity market in Germany looked like in March four years ago; the second  illustrates what is happening now, with 25GW of solar PV installed across the country. Essentially, it means that solar PV is not just licking the cream off the profits of the fossil fuel generators — as happens in Australia with a more modest rollout of PV — it is in fact eating their entire cake.
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This caught my interest as well.

Unfortunately, the Australian Energy Market Authority - I think I have 
that right - doesn't offer that kind of archival data for download.

However, you can download day-by-day (not hour-by-hour) data on prices 
for download.
http://www.aemo.com.au/data/market_data.html

I went through this hoping to find something to write about. I lit on 
March as the month to use, for no better reason than we're in March 2012.

Even looking at daily peak prices, I can't discover a similar trend in 
Australia.

This may not mean it's not happening here - it may be the inadequacy of 
historical data - but the daily peaks since 2005 don't suggest that a 
similar trend exists.

Cheers,
RC