[LINK] Why power generators are terrified of solar

[Richard Chirgwin]

Alex,

Thanks. I hadn't found that (obviously). Will take a look.

Richard

On 28/03/12 10:34 PM, Alex (Maxious) Sadleir wrote:
> On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 10:18 PM, Richard Chirgwin
> <rchirgwin at ozemail.com.au>  wrote:
>> 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.
>>> ....
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> 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
> You can download pricing data for every 5 minute interval since March
> 23 2009: http://www.nemweb.com.au/Reports/ARCHIVE/Dispatchprices_PRE_AP/
>
> In other directories, you can find what generators were active and to
> what extent at 5 minute intervals
> http://www.nemweb.com.au/Reports/ARCHIVE/Dispatch_SCADA/
>
> There's even documents somewhere about the fuel and specific estimated
> emissions of each generation facility.
>