Energy Synapse in Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia | Consultation agency

Energy Synapse

Locality: Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia

Address: Level 3, 100 Harris St 2009 Pyrmont, NSW, Australia

Website: https://energysynapse.com.au/

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25.01.2022 Wind and solar farms are facing write-downs due to the combined impacts of grid congestion problems, and falling prices accelerated by the impacts of COVID-19. We would add that renewable assets without storage are more vulnerable to falling prices because they cannot time shift output to more valuable periods. The lowest prices tend to occur when renewable output is high.

25.01.2022 Strong policies and a commitment to renewable energy targets by state governments have boosted investor confidence in Australias clean energy sector. According to the Clean Energy Council's latest Confidence Index, investor confidence is at a high of 7.3 out of 10. However, the top business challenge rated by the industry was once again concerns and challenges related to grid connection, which has been a top challenge since July 2019.... See the full report here: https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au//clean-energy-outloo #RenewableEnergy

25.01.2022 WE'RE HIRING: Are you a Full Stack Developer passionate about the transition to clean energy? If you have prior experience in a fast paced, startup environment, we would love to hear from you! See full details here: https://www.seek.com.au/job/50524642

25.01.2022 Big power companies and investors are backing the transition to clean energy. A consortium involving AGL, Australia's Future Fund and QIC has sealed a $2.7 billion takeover deal for wind farm operator Tilt Renewables. AGL CEO Brett Redman said the acquisition "will provide more renewable energy options in AGL’s generation portfolio, further supporting our orderly transition away from coal-fired power".

24.01.2022 Please join us in welcoming Kavita to Energy Synapse as Team Administrator. Kavita will be the first friendly and professional face you speak to when inquiring about our services or career opportunities. Prior to joining Energy Synapse, Kavita undertook an extensive Executive Assistant training program at Ernst & Young. She also has experience in the clean energy sector in India and holds a Masters in Environmental Management.

24.01.2022 Coal-fired power stations could close earlier than planned. An influx of renewables is already pushing NSW coal plants to run at less than 60% capacity.

23.01.2022 NSW is quickly evolving from clean energy laggard to leader. The state will help fund four new big battery projects as it readies for the retirement of ageing coal-fired power stations. The projects include utility-scale batteries at the Sapphire wind farm and the Uralla renewable energy hub, and a 6 MW virtual power plant (VPP) on the south coast.

23.01.2022 Great news! Five minute settlement will start in October 2021 - only delayed by three months instead of 12. See our explainer thread on Twitter for why this rule change is so significant for both consumers and the transition to #CleanEnergy: https://twitter.com/EnergySynapse/status/1281179146563928070

23.01.2022 AGL Energy has given the green light to the 250 MW Torrens big battery in South Australia, its second major battery announcement in two days. AGL CEO Brett Redman said a final investment decision had now been made, and construction of the battery is expected to begin soon, with completion in early 2023, about the time some of the current capacity at the Torrens Island gas generator will be retired.

22.01.2022 The Tesla Big Battery in South Australia just got 50% bigger! Much of the new capacity is focused on providing "virtual inertia" - a vital service, which is not yet monetised. Regulators and rule-makers are currently reviewing how the markets are constructed so that big batteries can be rewarded for the full value they provide to the grid.

22.01.2022 AGL Energy has announced plans for a massive 250 MW/1000 MWh battery in South Australia. The significance of this battery is the four hours of storage, the first in Australia, which suggests that AGL now sees batteries as competitive with gas generators to meet peak demand periods, and to operate primarily to shift the supply of wind and solar to when it is needed most.

22.01.2022 Happy #GlobalWindDay! May 2020 (narrowly) set a new record for the highest ever electricity generation from wind power in the NEM. Wind is the leading source of clean energy in Australia, having overtaken hydro in 2019.

20.01.2022 Great to see Canberra getting two big batteries of its own (total of 60 MW)! The batteries will participate in energy and frequency control markets, and will provide extra security against blackouts when fossil fuel generators fail in heatwaves.

20.01.2022 The Energy Security Board is preparing for the exit of coal-fired generation, which currently supplies nearly 70% of demand in the National Electricity Market (NEM). Energy Synapse is pleased to be providing analysis and advisory services, which will feed into the Post 2025 Market Design for the NEM. https://www.ecogeneration.com.au/energy-security-board-pre/

20.01.2022 AGL Energy unveils plans for at least 1000 MW of batteries. Chief Operating Officer, Mr Brokhof, said it was "the right moment" to expand storage plans with battery prices falling and a rush of new large-scale renewable energy plants vying to enter the market.

19.01.2022 The Energy Security Board's term has been extended for a further 12 months to allow for the completion of the post-2025 redesign of the National Electricity Market. Energy Synapse is pleased to be working with market bodies and stakeholders to provide analysis, which will feed into this redesign process. https://reneweconomy.com.au/energy-ministers-extend-life-o/

18.01.2022 In somewhat controversial news, the Federal Government has said it would build a new gas-fired power station in NSW if the private sector does not commit to enough dispatchable generation to replace Liddell. What are your thoughts on the role of new gas peakers and should they be funded by government? Tell us in the comments!

18.01.2022 Join us this Thursday (24 Sep) at 6pm for the Technologists Who Give a Sh*t virtual panel! Our Managing Director, Marija Petkovic, will be speaking about the future of clean energy and the tech we are developing at Energy Synapse. Register for FREE here: https://www.meetup.com/Technologists-Who-Give-a-Sh-t-Syd//... This is also your opportunity to learn more about the Full Stack Developer position that we are currently recruiting: https://www.seek.com.au/job/50524642

18.01.2022 Developers and investors have shown a strong appetite for the first renewable energy zone in NSW. The state government has committed a further $31.6 million to the zone following the phenomenal response from the market. The zone attracted 113 registrations of interest for projects, totalling 27 GW of solar, wind and storage proposals.

17.01.2022 Join us on Tuesday 27 October for the Energy Efficiency Expo session on demand response. Our Managing Director, Marija Petkovic, will be speaking about how industrials can use demand response to reduce electricity costs while helping to support the grid. Register for FREE here: https://www.energyefficiencyexpo.com.au//der-behind-the-me... #BrighterEnergyDecisions #EEE2020

16.01.2022 AEMO's Integrated System Plan maps out how the National Electricity Market (NEM) could evolve from a coal-based system to a highly renewable grid. We believe it's likely that 90% of the coal generation fleet will exit the market by 2037 as per AEMO's step change scenario. This creates significant opportunities for battery storage and demand response to support the clean energy transition. See more thoughts from our Managing Director, Marija Petkovic, and other leading women in the energy sector in this EcoGeneration article. https://www.ecogeneration.com.au/part-ii-is-aemos-2020-int/

16.01.2022 New scenario modelling from the CSIRO suggests Australia's National Electricity Market could have up to 60 GW of rooftop solar (under 100 kW) by 2050 - a 50 per cent jump in capacity from previous estimates. https://reneweconomy.com.au/australia-may-reach-nearly-60g/

15.01.2022 Clean energy developer, Neoen, has filed plans for a new battery in South Australia, which could be almost 10 times bigger than the first (Hornsdale). The Goyder South project would be delivered in three equal stages, each consisting of 400 MW wind, 200 MW solar and 300 MW/600 MWh of battery storage.

14.01.2022 Snowy Hydro 2.0 received planning approval today. The upgrade will boost generation capacity by 2 GW and storage by 350 GWh. Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the upgrade would reduce volatility in the market, support reliability and bring down power prices. Do you agree that Snowy 2.0 will drive down power prices? Let us know in the comments below.

13.01.2022 Less than two decades ago, South Australia generated all its electricity from fossil fuels. Now it is a clean energy world leader, with renewables providing a whopping 60% of the state's electricity supply in 2020. See how they did it: https://www.theguardian.com//renewable-energy-listed-for-f

13.01.2022 NEW RECORD: Renewable Energy supplied more than 30% of electricity in Australia's National Electricity Market for the second month in a row

13.01.2022 Another major renewable energy project is being planned for Queensland. The Wambo wind farm will have up to 500 MW of wind and 50 MW/200 MWh of battery storage. The big project is being co-developed by Renewable Energy Partners and Cubico Sustainable Investments.

13.01.2022 Demand response could be a key source of flexibility in the grid as the uptake of clean but variable energy continues to grow in Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM). Read about the opportunities and challenges in this article by our Managing Director Marija Petkovic. Starts page 24. https://www.ecogeneration.com.au/pdf/ECO_APR_2021_web.pdf

13.01.2022 NSW Government prepares to announce a call-out for up to 8 GW of wind, solar and storage project proposals for its second Renewable Energy Zone. This follows a phenomenal response to the call-out for the first Renewable Energy Zone, which received 27 GW of proposals. Stay tuned for when registrations of interests open!

12.01.2022 What is the role of battery storage in Australias transition to clean energy? See our explainer below! The scatter chart shows the fundamental challenge of wind and solar. Although they are the cheapest means of generating electricity, their output is variable and has a low correlation with demand. As the penetration of variable renewable energy continues to grow, more firming will be needed to balance supply and demand and keep the grid stable. This will need to come fro...m a portfolio of technologies such as batteries, hydro, gas, and demand response. The unique value of batteries comes from their fast and accurate response to grid events - not from storing bulk energy. The wheel shows the value streams that batteries can currently tap into. Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) present the biggest opportunity under current market conditions. However, these markets are very volatile, which presents a 'bankability' challenge. Batteries are also not able to monetise the full value they provide to the grid, as there is no market for services such as fast frequency response. There is a need for market reform to keep pace with the evolving needs of the grid. An important upcoming change is the move from 30-min to 5-min settlement, which will better value fast responding assets such as batteries. What other changes do you think the NEM needs to help facilitate the transition to clean energy? Tell us in the comments!

11.01.2022 EnergyAustralia has announced it will close Australia's dirtiest coal-fired power station in 2028 - four years earlier than scheduled. This comes as a flood of cheap renewables drive down power prices, making it increasingly difficult for coal to remain economically viable.

11.01.2022 Big news for South Australia! The State Government has signed a 10-year deal that will pave the way for the construction of the 100 MW/100 MWh Playford battery and the state's biggest solar farm (280 MW) at Cultana near Whyalla. https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-signs-supply-d/

10.01.2022 Demand response will be a key source of flexibility as the uptake of variable renewable energy grows. Demand response allows consumers and businesses to save on their energy costs while also helping to keep the grid stable. More than 4 GW of potential response already exist in the NEM, but barriers to deployment remain. See some of the key findings of our research in this EcoGeneration article: https://www.ecogeneration.com.au/demand-response-gigawatts/

09.01.2022 JUST IN: The wholesale demand response mechanism is going live as planned in October 2021 with no further delay. This rule change is one of the biggest energy market reforms in decades. Commercial and industrial energy users will be able to access wholesale demand response through a new market participant the demand response service provider (DRSP), without going through a retailer.... The new mechanism allows demand response providers to bid into the market and compete directly with generators in the price setting process. This extra competition will put downward pressure on prices, which will benefit all energy users (even those who cannot provide demand response themselves). #Energy #Aluminium #Manufacturing

09.01.2022 Coal output is falling in almost every country and is being replaced by renewables. Australia is in the middle of the pack, but could and should be leading with our abundance of renewable energy resources. https://reneweconomy.com.au/a-global-clean-energy-health-c/

08.01.2022 2019-20 was a summer of extremes - storms knocking out transmission towers, extreme heat, and bushfires. Six separation events occurred compared to zero in the prior summer. 178 directions were issued to deal with grid issues, a ten-fold increase over the past three years. Despite unprecedented challenges, power system security was maintained. This outcome was achieved through having sufficient reserves available throughout the summer and a great deal of hard work across the... industry to manage through a number of very complex and challenging climate-related events" says Audrey Zibelman, CEO of AEMO. The role of battery storage in providing stability was also highlighted in AEMO's report. The report showed that battery storage systems in South Australia made a major contribution to the provision of FCAS services when South Australia disconnected from the grid and operated as an island. Read AEMO's full report here: https://www.aemo.com.au//system-o/summer-operations-report

07.01.2022 New issues paper from the Australian Energy Regulator outlines the case to bind semi-scheduled wind and solar farms to dispatch targets in a similar manner to scheduled generators. Figure 1 and Figure 2 show an example of the target and actual delivery of a wind farm. In [Figure 2], the early rapid reduction to 0 MW, before a corresponding dispatch instruction was issued with a 0 MW target, appears unrelated to resource availability or technical limitations.... As the generator reduced its capacity and deviated from AEMOs forecast target, the power system frequency fell and moved outside the normal frequency operating bands. The impact on frequency would be more substantial if a number of semi scheduled generators operated in this way concurrently. The Australian Energy Regulator invites interested parties to make their written submissions on this proposed rule change by 24th July. Read the paper here https://www.aer.gov.au//For%20publishing%20-%20Issues%20pa This rule change could have major implications for the renewable energy industry. What do you think are the pros and cons? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

06.01.2022 Big batteries help keep the grid stable and also produce strong returns for investors. The Tesla Big Battery in South Australia has been the single most profitable asset for Neoen across Australia, Europe and the Americas. Now they are looking to build big batteries in every state!

06.01.2022 Great step for South Australia as it works towards its 100% renewable energy target! The massive $3 billion Goyder South project from Neoen has won planning approval and will feature up to 1200 MW of wind, 600 MW of solar, and up to 900 MW of battery capacity, with likely two hours of storage (1,800MWh).

06.01.2022 NEM average wholesale electricity prices declined significantly in Q2 2020 and reached the lowest levels since 2015 according to AEMOs Q2 Energy Dynamics Report. Low spot prices were largely driven by an increase in low-priced bids from all fuel types, lower gas prices and a reduction in operational demand due to COVID-19. See the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g_WXSCt

05.01.2022 South Australia government steps in to oppose the delay to the 5-minute settlement rule. Batteries will be the big winners in this rule change and South Australia is a testament to the benefits that batteries can provide. This intervention is significant.

05.01.2022 Federal Government has promised $250 million to accelerate three interconnector projects: - Marinus Link between Tasmania & Victoria - Project Energy Connect between South Australia & NSW - VNI West link between NSW & Victoria... These projects are key to unlocking vast gigawatts of new renewable energy and shoring up reliability.

05.01.2022 We may see Australias largest behind the meter renewable energy system live soon. Chips producer McCain Foods Australia & NZ has started to install 17,000 solar panels on the ground and rooftop of its Ballarat production plant. Whats more is that the production of potato skins and juice will fuel another heat and power plant which will operate alongside the solar system. ... Its almost like having a grid-scale battery, working together with solar says Louis Wolthers, Regional President Australia

05.01.2022 Can Australia's National Electricity Market transition away from coal by the mid 2030s? We certainly think so! See what our Managing Director, Marija Petkovic, and other leading experts thought about AEMO's Integrated System Plan in the latest issue of EcoGeneration magazine: https://www.ecogeneration.com.au/pdf/ECO_OCT_2020_web.pdf

04.01.2022 Another study has demonstrated the increasing economic value of battery storage as the uptake of variable renewable generation grows. The authors from MIT and Princeton University concluded that "Battery storage helps make better use of electricity system assets, including wind and solar farms, natural gas power plants, and transmission lines, and can defer or eliminate unnecessary investment in these capital-intensive assets." Our paper demonstrates that this capacity deferral, or substitution of batteries for generation or transmission capacity, is the primary source of storage value.

04.01.2022 The University of Queensland has offset 100% of its electricity use with renewable energy thanks to its new 64 MW solar farm. The Warwick solar farm is first and foremost an act of leadership that demonstrates that a transition to renewables can be done at scale, thats practicable and makes economic sense, says UQ Vice-Chancellor Peter Høj.

02.01.2022 The addition of more than 4 GW of new wind and solar capacity since last year means Australia is unlikely to breach its reliability standards this summer, despite the increasing fragility of its ageing coal fleet, according to AEMO.

02.01.2022 How will future grids remain stable with little coal and gas generation? Smart, aggregated home batteries are one type of new technology that will play an important role. Tesla's 2000+ home battery virtual power plant in South Australia has just won approval to provide 10 MW for grid stability services.

02.01.2022 South Australia could become the first major grid in the world to reach "zero operational demand" due to the growth of rooftop solar. The South Australia Government is fast tracking the new interconnector with NSW and has approved AEMO to "switch off" up to 1 GW of rooftop solar when needed to maintain grid stability. Curtailing rooftop solar will be necessary in certain circumstances, but we would also like to see a more aggressive rollout of storage and demand response init...iatives to soak up excess solar. What do you think is the best way to manage the growing amount of rooftop solar in the grid? Tell us in the comments! #Renewables https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-australia-fast-tracks-en/

01.01.2022 For a population of 25 million, Australia's progress in #solar is impressive - 8th for new capacity added in 2019 and 2nd for total capacity per inhabitant. REN21 #renewables https://www.ren21.net/reports/global-status-report/

01.01.2022 Queensland State Government has established a new $500 million Renewable Energy Fund to help reach its 50% renewable energy target by 2030.

01.01.2022 Demand response will be a key enabler of the transition to clean energy by helping to keep the grid stable and also reducing costs for energy users. Our Managing Director, Marija Petkovic, spoke to EcoGeneration magazine about the potential for demand response and the barriers that still need to be overcome.