The cost of solar generation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: chrisb741
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2023, 04:58:59 pm
content: Why is the cost of solar generation positive in NSW and negative in Victoria?Dont understand why you get paid to put power onto the grid from solar in one state and in another you have to pay to put solar power onto the grid?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2023, 09:49:31 pm
content: That's averaged over the day, but it looks like there were either transmission constraints (prices tracked in all states other than NSW) or NSW had some off market pricing included.For those who aren't familiar with the source:https://opennem.org.au/

author: chrisb741
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 06:26:09 am
content: I still dont get why solar roof top gets negative but other forms are positive. Why dont they all suffer from the same transmission constraints?Thought they were trying to go green, how is that supposed to happen when solar power for some crazy reason costs money to export.If its costing money why do people bother exporting it? and how can i only import solar power so I can get paid for taking it?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 06:45:53 am
content: Quote from: Someone on September 28, 2023, 09:49:31 pm

author: chrisb741
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 12:56:29 pm
content: OK, so thats the daily average, that means its mostly negative to average out to be negative over the day, so why/how is generation negative during the an instance of the day when it costs money to generate?

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 02:15:05 pm
content: People are lazy, system sellers had little profit motive to sell systems which could automatically curtail and the power companies are laughing.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 02:20:50 pm
content: Wind turbines have a problem when there is no demand for their output. They can be feathered and shut down, but I understand there are consequences for that. There are situations where its better for them to pay to keep their turbines somewhat loaded, if nobody wants the energy. There are no similar issues with solar. If nobody wants it, just just don't output it. Why would anyone pay a cent for the privilege of supplying useless solar power? Is that the whole purpose of negative solar tariffs? So that people ensure their output truly goes to zero when there is no market for it?

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 02:38:54 pm
content: Once again, people are lazy.Regulators should never have allowed this to happen for new systems after they ended net metering. Automatic curtailment should be mandatory (communication with inverter could be via powerline comms or if there is really no other way internet).

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 02:46:21 pm
content: Quote from: Marco on September 29, 2023, 02:38:54 pmAutomatic curtailment is now mandatory in new equipment in most places. Tariffs aren't sufficient to deal with the safety issues that islanding creates.

author: Marco
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 03:02:48 pm
content: You don't need islanding for zero export, just a current sensor on the outgoing connection. Or better yet, a standardized way to communicate with the smart meter.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 29, 2023, 10:14:21 pm
content: Quote from: Marco on September 29, 2023, 03:02:48 pm... and domestic tariffs that follow wholesale market pricing.Quote from: coppice on September 29, 2023, 02:20:50 pmBarely any limitations on that, only thermally controlled units cycling quickly:https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/wind-farm-blaze-boss-blames-negative-power-prices-for-strain-on-old-turbine/2-1-1481181Quote from: coppice on September 29, 2023, 02:20:50 pmThere are other market forces in place, particularly that the energy delivered by solar/wind is not always being sold at the spot price (long term energy purchases) and can be "forced" into the market to produce carbon offsets/credits/"measurable commodity units that are definitely not a tax". Pretty murky stuff when you try to pick apart all the details, but the market signals are enough to push investment in energy storage.

author: f4eru
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 30, 2023, 09:23:03 am
content: QuotePolitics.There's a disconnect between customer prices (often still fixed price) and market electricity prices.Different regions and countries evolve this very differently.