Renewables Might Replace Fossil Fuels in Providing Energy Security in Australia

According to recent studies, renewable energies and batteries will secure Australia's power grid almost as well as coal and gas.

Energy Control

Clean technology offered the quick frequency response service and voltage control required to protect the energy grid and minimize costs, according to the report, which was commissioned by the Australia Institute think tank and published on Monday. However, according to the study, regulatory hurdles currently hinder green energy and battery storage's capacity to provide device security.

Controls are needed in the electricity grid to keep frequency and voltage within safe limits and have traditionally been generated by coal, gas, and hydropower plants.

"The coal and gas business models are crashing in front of our eyes, but the good news is that batteries and clean energies will now step in and keep the grid secure," said energy economist Prof Bruce Mountain.

Renewable Alternative

"Renewables now provide the cheapest energy on the market, leaving the fossil fuel sector with only the defense resources they have previously provided to stand on. Renewable energy is now delivering all such utilities more efficiently and sustainably, and this development can only continue in the future."

The think tank is pushing for new energy protection standards that would encourage renewables to support grid stability.

The study was funded by the Energy Security Board to aid in reorganizing the national power sector. In June 2021, Australian energy ministers will decide on a proposed "post-2025" design for the national economy.

Results of the Survey

According to Monday's report, 51% of Australian survey respondents would prefer to pay for new batteries to keep the grid stable. In comparison, 26% would prefer to keep paying coal generators for this operation.

Dan Cass, the Australia Institute's energy policy and regulatory lead, said that if coal generators begin to lose revenue, they will make financial choices that damage grid protection by cutting maintenance or mothballing units.

"Gas power plants are closing and being supplemented by alternative energy sources, but there is no national strategy in place to replace the security services provided by coal. Despite their exceptional capacity in this space, batteries, renewables, and demand response are kept back by obstacles that preclude them from contributing to device security."

Storing Energy

According to Cass, recent research has shown that clean energies will have adequate system security to help the grid, and Australians are "happy for the change to happen."

"Batteries have much more system protection than a coal generator of equivalent capacity."

Energy Supply

The Australian energy market operator (Aemo) said in a forecast published on Monday that the country's gas supply should be safe until 2026 if expected investments and pipeline extensions in the east and south-east go ahead.

However, if the Port Kembla gas terminal is postponed and winter demand in Victoria peaks, the forecast highlights southern supply risks for 2023.

The projection, which was based on data from gas suppliers and industrial gas consumers, suggested that the market was on the brink of transition.

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