Electricity Update
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National Energy Emissions Audit – Electricity Update January 2018 Providing a comprehensive, up-to-date indication of key electricity trends in Australia Author: Hugh Saddler 1 ABOUT THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE The Australia Institute is an independent public policy think tank based in Canberra. It is funded by donations from philanthropic trusts and individuals and commissioned research. We barrack for ideas, not political parties or candidates. Since its launch in 1994, the Institute has carried out highly influential research on a broad range of economic, social and environmental issues. OUR PHILOSOPHY As we begin the 21st century, new dilemmas confront our society and our planet. Unprecedented levels of consumption co-exist with extreme poverty. Through new technology we are more connected than we have ever been, yet civic engagement is declining. Environmental neglect continues despite heightened ecological awareness. A better balance is urgently needed. The Australia Institute’s directors, staff and supporters represent a broad range of views and priorities. What unites us is a belief that through a combination of research and creativity we can promote new solutions and ways of thinking. OUR PURPOSE – ‘RESEARCH THAT MATTERS’ The Institute publishes research that contributes to a more just, sustainable and peaceful society. Our goal is to gather, interpret and communicate evidence in order to both diagnose the problems we face and propose new solutions to tackle them. The Institute is wholly independent and not affiliated with any other organisation. Donations to its Research Fund are tax deductible. Anyone wishing to donate can do so via the website at https://www.tai.org.au or by calling the Institute on 02 6130 0530. Our secure and user-friendly website allows donors to make either one-off or regular monthly donations. Level 1, Endeavour House, 1 Franklin St Canberra, ACT 2601 Tel: (02) 61300530 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tai.org.au 2 Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3 Summary ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Generation, demand and emissions trends ............................................................. 5 State breakdown of demand .................................................................................... 8 A closer look at hydro and wind generation ............................................................ 9 Appendix: Notes on methodology.......................................................................... 18 References .............................................................................................................. 19 Introduction Welcome to the January 2018 issue of the NEEA Electricity Update, the companion publication to the National Energy Emissions Audit Report. The Electricity Update presents data on electricity demand, electricity supply, and electricity generation emissions in the National Electricity Market (NEM). This month’s issue covers data to the end of December 2017. Each issue of Electricity Update contains a more detailed discussion of one or two topical issues relating to the electricity system. In this issue we look at the performance of hydro and wind generators in the NEM over the past ten years. 3 Key points Electricity consumption per person and per dollar of GPD in the NEM has dropped and total consumption is down Electricity consumption per capita fell by 2.1% and consumption per dollar of GDP fell by 2.6% for the period March 2016 – June 2017. Total electricity consumption has been stable for six months and is almost the same as it was over 18 months ago. NEM electricity generation emissions fell again and average emissions intensity again sets a new low record In the year to December, total annual emissions from electricity generation in the NEM fell for the sixth month in succession, and the average emissions intensity of NEM generation set a new record low. That said, the NEM remains one of the most emissions intense electricity supply systems in the world because of our high levels of consumption of brown coal in particular. Household rooftop solar continues to grow, reaching a record of 6.2 TWh in the year to December 2017. Rooftop solar has been installed by over 1.6 million households and is the most reliable source of steadily growing generation in the NEM (see Figure 3, red line). It has more than doubled since mid-2013. Stable policy is essential for a smooth transition to lower emissions Long term trends show the importance of consistent policy settings designed to achieve a smooth replacement of coal fired power stations by renewables. The ACT’s wind auctions were the only driver of new wind farm construction for two and half years (see Figure 11). Pumped hydro and Snowy 2.0 Discussion of the Prime Minister’s Snowy 2.0 proposal has ignored the NEM’s three existing pumped hydro schemes. The Tumut 3 played a crucial role during the NSW supply crisis in February 2017 and is a little-reported element of preparation for possible extreme peaks later this summer. Queensland’s Wivenhoe scheme, however, has been criticised for holding back supply, keeping prices high for the benefit of CS Energy’s coal-fired generation. Pumped hydro can provide valuable services, but the size of the scheme, desired role in the NEM and incentives faced by operators need to be considered. The Snowy 2.0 proposal largely ignores these issues and is increasing uncertainty for other investors in storage and generation. 4 Generation, demand and emissions trends The National Electricity Market (NEM) continues to make a gradual transition to distributed and lower emissions technologies. Steady growth in rooftop solar PV, contributed to net generation or ‘generation sent out’, being 5% lower than in June 2018 (see Figure 1 below). Figure 1 Changes in emissions, sent out electricity generationand emissions intensity 5 % 0 % -5 % -10 % -15 % Carbon price -20 % Jun 08 Jun 09 Jun 10 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 16 Jun 17 Generation incl. rooftop solar Generation sent out Emissions Emissions intensity Total demand for electricity In the NEM and WA in the year to December 2017 was again almost unchanged, for the sixth successive month. The overall consequence for the NEM is that annual consumption – termed operational demand by AEMO – has been almost constant for over a year and a half. During the period from March 2016 to June 2017, ABS data report population of the NEM states increasing by 2.1% and real GDP increasing by 2.6%. Hence, since total electricity consumption was constant, consumption per capita fell by 2.1% and consumption per dollar of GDP fell by 2.6%. During December, total electricity supplied by generators to the NEM (in blue) and the total annual emissions from those generators (in brown) both fell, as shown in Figure 1. This continues the trend of the past two years. Electricity generation is the only significant source of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to have fallen over the past two years (see NEEA Reports for September and December 2017). In order for Australia to meet our international climate responsibilities the bulk of emissions reductions need to come from the electricity sector. That is why NEEA and other Climate & 5 Energy Program reports provide such detail about changes to electricity emissions and the causes of those changes. 1 In the December 2017 issue of NEEA Electricity Update we explained that emissions from electricity generation are the product of demand for electricity and the emissions intensity of electricity supplied. It was calculated that, up to the end of November 2017, reduction in demand for electricity from the grid contributed about one third of the total reduction in annual emissions from NEM generation since June 2008. The other two thirds were contributed by the lower average emissions intensity of electricity generation. It was pointed out that, in the year to November, the average emissions intensity of NEM electricity reached its lowest ever level, calculated by the NEEA to be 0.833 t CO2-e/MWh sent out. (Different estimates of grid emissions intensity may vary slightly because the emissions intensity of individual generators often changes slightly from year to year, affected by such factors as coal quality and the operating cycle for the power station. However, all estimates will record similar trends over time, i.e. they will agree that emissions intensity is steadily falling.) In the year to December 2017, average emissions intensity fell again, by 0.2%, to 0.831 t CO2- e/MWh sent out. The changes in the mix of generation supplying the NEM, which have driven this fall in average emissions intensity, are shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 Changes in fuel shares of generation, emissions and emissions intensity 15 % 10 % 5 % 0 % -5 % -10 % -15 % Carbon price -20 % Jun 08 Jun 09 Jun 10 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 16 Jun 17 Black coal share Brown coal share Gas share Renewable share Emissions intensity Emissions 1 See also Campbell (2017) Meeting Our Paris Commitment, http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P439%20Meeting%20our%20Paris%20Commitment%20- %20TAI%20Climate%20and%20Energy%20Program%20-%20September%202017.pdf 6 Figure 3 Changes in electricity generation by fuel type 15 10 5 0 -5 TWh -10 -15 -20 -25 Carbon price -30 Jun 08 Jun 09 Jun 10 Jun 11 Jun 12 Jun 13 Jun 14 Jun 15 Jun 16 Jun 17 Brown coal Black coal Wind Hydro Gas Large solar and biomass Figures 2 and 3 show that, for a few months after June 2016, both brown and black coal generation levelled off. However, gas generation continued to fall, while there was a sharp increase in renewable generation, meaning that the reduction in overall emissions intensity continued. Figure 3 shows that increased hydro output was the main contributor to higher renewable generation during this period, with a smaller increase in wind generation. Hydro output grew in all three states with major hydro capacity (Tasmania, Victoria and NSW). The reasons for this sudden output increase are discussed below, in the detailed special discussion of hydro and wind.