Firming merchant renewable generators in Australia's National Electricity Market

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Flottmann, Jonty H
Akimov, Alexandr
Simshauser, Paul
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2022
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Global decarbonisation is driving investments in intermittent renewable generation, with most plant entering the market by way of a Power Purchase Agreement. In Australia's National Electricity Market, a surprising number of renewable generators have entered on a merchant basis. To maintain tractable revenues some minimum level of hedging is required, but in an energy-only electricity market with a very high market price cap, merchant intermittent generators require some level of associated firming capacity to ensure spot price exposures can be adequately managed. This article uses unit commitment, battery arbitrage and stochastic discounted cashflow valuation models to compare an Open Cycle Gas Turbine and a battery as firming options for a hypothetical wind farm in the South Australian region of the NEM. Using historic market data from 2010–2020, we find OCGT firming capacity helps the wind farm to generate consistent net cash flows, allowing it to withstand the highs and lows of spot market prices whilst covering required contract-for-difference payments associated with hedging. When battery firming is deployed, the wind farm/ battery portfolio generated higher cash flows at specific times, reflecting participation in price arbitrage under low spot price scenarios. However, battery performance was constrained by costly storage capacity.

Journal Title

Economic Analysis and Policy

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

74

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Applied economics

Econometrics

Economic theory

Social Sciences

Economics

Business & Economics

Energy

Firming

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Flottmann, JH; Akimov, A; Simshauser, P, Firming merchant renewable generators in Australia's National Electricity Market, Economic Analysis and Policy, 2022, 74, pp. 262-276

Collections