<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/gridlock-its-time-rethink-the-grid-make-it-local-and-fit-for-consumers/>
"Last week, we saw a perfect illustration of the disconnect between consumers
and the electricity sector management: In response to the announcement of the
next round of electricity bill increases, consumers were told to “shop around”!
The Federal government, meanwhile, has been forced to offer further energy bill
rebates.
The National Electricity Market (NEM) has now operated for 3 decades, with
promises of lower electricity prices and a more efficient system.
However, it has struggled to adapt to the significant changes which have
occurred in all stages of the electricity value chain, from technology changes,
to the advent of customer energy resources (CER) and increases in extreme
weather events.
State and Federal Governments have now intervened at transmission, generation,
distribution and retail levels and yet prices keep rising – and no, this can’t
be blamed on renewables, it points to a market structure and regulatory
framework that is not fit for purpose.
The top-down, disaggregated, supply focussed, centralised system is not
appropriate for a grid increasingly dominated by distributed energy, which must
be managed locally, while the profit driven, market model is arguably not
suitable for delivery of an essential community service.
After years of tweaking, endless rule changes, enquiries, road maps or consumer
engagement strategies one has to ask whether the entire system needs to be
re-designed from the ground up.
In an attempt to manage the rapid transition from fossil fuels whilst
maintaining the top-down, centralised model, governments have established
Renewable Energy Zones and extensive new transmission lines, to emulate a
renewable energy version of our previous coal-based electricity system.
As in the 1970’s with coal generators and transmission lines, the new plans
have been met by strong community opposition, this time further fuelled by
political and climate-change denier groups keen to prevent the transition to
renewables.
And yet, Australia has the highest uptake of residential rooftop PV and is
rapidly following with batteries. Surveys regularly show more than 80% support
for renewables; over 100 local community energy groups have been established;
and we have some of the best renewable energy resources in the world.
The potential for CER (consumer energy resources) is far from saturation, with
the residential market still growing strongly and a surge in commercial rooftop
systems now beginning. In addition, over the coming decade, the transition to a
fleet of 20 million electric vehicles in Australia could provide up to 3 days
of current NEM demand.
This provides Australia with a clear opportunity to make the transition to
renewables with power systems sized to meet local loads, using the most
suitable local resources and built with the enthusiasm and support of customers
and communities, whilst also increasing grid resilience in the face of
increasing extreme weather events."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
