Edge News

Our team is dedicated to being across the energy industry. We analyse any changes within the market and evaluate the impact to our clients. Here you will find a range of articles ranging from major industry events through to our detailed views on energy market movements.

26 Apr New Firming Product released to market

Posted at 16:35h in Energy Markets, News, Renewables by Nick Clark

As more and more large energy consumers look to contract directly with renewable generators, and renewable generators seek price certainty, a new product referred to as the “clean energy derivative” has hit the market. In the last few weeks, AGL and ERM have released a somewhat standardised product which is built on generation from a renewable source and then “firmed”. AGL’s “Wind Product Firming Unit” was described as being firmed through physical gas generation whilst also allowing the renewable generator to access the spot market (available in SA and VIC). ERM announced a similar product which is based on generation from solar. These are great initiatives from the retailers who are...

17 Apr Northern Territory Government lifts moratorium on fracking

Posted at 15:12h in Energy Markets, Gas, News by Nick Clark

The Chief Minister of the Northern Terriroty (NT) Michael Gunner has announced that the 135 recommendations made in the recent inquiry into fracking in the NT would be implemented, allowing on-shore fracking to take place in the territory. The 135 recommendations made in the inquiry mitigate the risks associated with onshore gas development to acceptable levels, and in some cases claim to eliminate the risks completely. New gas developments will require environmental management plans which will be assessed by the NT Environment Protection Authority and signed off by the environment minister. There will also be area’s where fracking will not be allowed. These include indigenous protected areas, special environmental areas, cultural and...

12 Apr AEMC sets maximum price for power

Posted at 16:24h in Electricity, Energy Markets, News by Thomas Dargue

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has released its schedule of reliability settings which outlines the maximum price for electricity for both an individual dispatch interval as well as the maximum cumulative price. The current maximum price of $14,200/MWh will increase to $14,500/MWh and the cumulative price threshold will increase from $212.800 to $216,900. The maximum price sets the highest cost a generator can be paid in any period and consequently what a consumer can be exposed to. It is escalated each year in line with CPI to encourage new peaking plant to enter the market if needed. The cumulative price threshold aggregates the trading intervals over the last seven days. If they...

29 Mar Nearly 30 million certificates to be surrendered to meet small scale renewable energy scheme obligations

Posted at 16:04h in Energy Markets, Gas, News by Nick Clark

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) announced earlier today, the 2018 small-scale technology percentage (STP) as 17.08%. This means that liable entities (mainly electricity retailers) are required to surrender to the CER approximately 29.3 million STCs to meet their small scale renewable energy scheme obligations for 2018. This figure is derived by adding 7.2 million STCs to the estimated 22.1 million supply of STCs in 2018 (see below for how this is determined). The 7.2 million STC adjustment is the difference between previous years’ STC creations and the actual number of STCs surrendered in those years. Last year the STP was 7.01%, therefore this year is an increase of 10.07%. The uplift...

28 Mar Northern Territory Hydraulic Fracturing

Posted at 16:25h in Energy Markets, Gas, News by Nick Clark

After 15 months, 151 public hearings, 31 community updates and 1,257 submissions, Justice Rachel Pepper has presented the independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing of Onshore Unconventional Reservoirs to the Northern Territory Government. The inquiry makes 135 recommendations which mitigate the risks associated with onshore shale gas development to acceptable levels, and in some cases, eliminate the risks completely. The report clearly states that it is necessary for all the recommendations to be actioned in order for the risks to be reduced to acceptable levels. The final report builds on the recommendations made in the Draft Final Report by including: an implementation Chapter, which states clearly that all of the recommendations...

28 Mar Softer forward electricity prices recorded on the Australian Stock Exchange

Posted at 15:09h in Electricity, Energy Markets, News by Nick Clark

Quarterly forward contracts from Q118 to Q219 declined across all mainland regions in the National Electricity Market (NEM) yesterday. The largest decline was in the illiquid South Australian market where Q219 prices dropped by $9.75/MWh. Queensland contracts are currently the most affordable which is driven by the surplus of firm capacity in the region and a direction from the Queensland Government last year to Stanwell Corporation to lower wholesale prices. New South Wales contract prices have declined since the beginning of 2018 driven by lower than expected spot price outcomes in the region. Snowy Hydro corporation have been instrumental in reducing volatility in the region aggressively defending the $300.00/MWh cap...

28 Mar Concentrated Solar Thermal and the National Energy Guarantee

Posted at 10:08h in News by Nick Clark

ARENA has released their public summary of the Request For Information (RFI) on Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) projects. The RFI process was designed to examine the potential for a possible program supporting the deployment of CST systems in Australia. There were 31 respondents to the RFI. Respondents ranged from the most experienced in the world to relatively junior Australian companies. There were a couple of key takeaways from the exercise which included: - That dispatchable and flexible generation coupled with synchronous generation was beneficial; - Cost discovery was limited as pricing is commercially sensitive in nature. More junior developers offered low pricing; - There are a number of regulatory, commercial and technical challenges...

23 Mar Edge makes submission regarding NEG

Posted at 12:18h in Energy Markets, News by Kristy McGrath

It is important that the National Electricity Market remains secure and Australia can be part of the international commitment to reducing climate change while remaining competitive. The NEG seeks to achieve these objectives while trying to achieve support from both major federal parties. The importance of bipartisan support has been acknowledged, as the market struggles to self-adapt with uncertainty. Having a lasting framework which is flexible enough to allow for changes in a rapidly changing energy market whilst providing certainty to investors who need to recoup long term fixed charges is difficult. Ensuring the market remains efficient and effective is critical to achieving the objectives. It is in this context that...

19 Mar New SA liberal party leader focused on cutting energy costs

Posted at 16:25h in News by Thomas Dargue

The new South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall, will be looking to reduce energy prices in the state. Mr Marshall is not in favour of setting a state-based target for renewable energy and has noted that even without a target, the state is likely to reach 74% of all electricity being renewable in 2025 and 76% in 2030. Mr Marshall is focusing on batteries and additional interconnection instead. He is aiming to establish a fund within his first 100 days in office to provide a $2,500 subsidy for up to 40,000 household to purchase a battery. The subsidy will be available to households that already have solar PV and will be means tested,...

16 Mar ACCUs Surrendered under Safeguard Mechanism

Posted at 11:39h in News by Nick Clark

Together with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007, the safeguard mechanism provides a framework for Australia’s largest emitters to measure, report and manage their emissions. It gives businesses a legislated obligation to keep net emissions below their baseline. Baselines are intended to accommodate business growth and allow businesses to continue normal operations. The Clean Energy Regulator recently released the first full year of data on 14 March 2018 under the safe guard mechanism. The safeguard mechanism commenced on 1 July 2016, with the first reporting period ending 30 June 2017. Emissions were reported to the Clean Energy Regulator as part of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme on 31 October...