Solar & Storage SPRING 2018
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
SMART ENERGY COUNCIL
• What next for energy & climate policy? • The Finkel 49 • PV market outshines itself • Electric vehicles in the limelight
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Contents
Smart Energy Council Forewords by CEO and Simon Holmes à Court 4 Smart Energy Show 2019
16
Membership services
60
Master Installers
61
Corporate Members
63
Positive Quality
64
SPRING 2018 ISSUE 3
8
Market Dynamics News and views
6, 46
Time is ticking away
8
Infographic: Renewables ramp up
18
Special Features Finkel’s 49 by Dan Cass 12 Storage economics: Warwick Forster of Apogee 30 The healthy PV market by Warwick Johnston
42
Around the Industry Electric vehicles – the road ahead
32
Newsmakers
36
Front cover: Cartoonist Cathy Wilcox says it all – in pictures
ARENA and CEFC programs and advances 38 Climate Council: the cost of coal
40
Wise words
44
Taiwan’s innovation
48
WSU’s winning solar car
50
Local and global events
62
16
Storage Revolution Storage developments
20
Battery Performance Standards
20
Battery Trials update
21
32
Office of Chief Scientist on storage potential 26
Innovation and inspiration Redback Technologies
28
Growatt 53 Array Technologies
54
Floatpac 54 Solar 4 RVs
55
Deep Cycle Systems
56
Vermeer Australia
58
Selectronic 58
SOLAR & STORAGE is published by the SMART ENERGY COUNCIL ABN 32 006 824 148 www.smartenergy.org.au @SmartEnergyCncl @AustSmartNRG
54
50 SMART ENERGY COUNCIL CEO John Grimes PO Box 231, Mawson ACT 2607 admin@smartenergy.org.au Phone: 1300 768 204 Solar & Storage ISSN 2206-1673
INCORPORATING THE
Subscription & membership contact Luke Shavak, Membership Sales Manager M: 0499 345 013 | luke@smartenergy.org.au Solar & Storage advertising enquiries contact Brett Thompson, Sales Manager M: 0402 181 250 | brett@smartenergy.org.au
SOLAR & STORAGE EDITOR: Nicola Card editor@smartenergy.org.au nicola@smartenergy.org.au
Solar & Storage (previously Solar Progress) was first published in 1980. The magazine aims to provide readers with an in-depth review of technologies, policies and progress towards a society which sources energy from the sun rather than fossil fuels.
CONTRIBUTORS: Cathryn Blair, Dan Cass, Sue Clements, Warwick Foster, Warwick Johnston, Jonathon Kennedy, Penny Parle, Redback
Except where specifically stated, the opinions and material published in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Smart Energy Council. Although every effort is made to check the authenticity and accuracy of articles, neither the Smart Energy Council nor the editors are responsible for any inaccuracy.
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: Mitzi Mann
Solar & Storage is published quarterly. www.smartenergy.org.au
Welcome
John Grimes, Chief Executive, Smart Energy Council
YOU CAN ONLY DESPAIR about the state of the Federal Government’s climate and renewable energy policy. A policy that pretended to do something for the environment, but actually delivered nothing, (the National Energy Guarantee) was enough to tear the Coalition government apart. The Liberal Party would not stand for even the illusion of movement on emissions reductions in the energy sector. At the same time, Australia in mid-winter is in awful drought and bushfires rage as if it were summer time.
The Arctic Circle is on fire, in both northern Sweden and Canada. Yes, it is a massive challenge. It is also a massive business and economic opportunity. The opportunity to transform our economy, promote investment and jobs, and provide cheap, clean energy for the entire economy. The immediate risk to our future, both economic and environmental, is the ideology of the hard right of Australian politics. All Australian governments, of whatever ilk, need to have a positive economic and environmental vision for our future. It is time all of us stood up and pushed all sides, but especially the Liberal/National Parties, to get on board a positive agenda, and deliver the future we deserve for all Australians.
In my view … RENEWABLE ENERGY IN AUSTRALIA enters a new phase Taylor played a key role behind the scenes with the appointment of Angus Taylor as our new during the Abbott government’s Warburton federal energy minister. Review, which succeeded in cutting 40 While Taylor frequently makes reference to his per cent out of the renewable energy grandfather William Hudson’s role as Chief Engineer development pipeline. More recently Taylor of the Snowy River Scheme, he has been actively has boasted to 2GB ‘shock jock’ Ray Hadley opposed to modern renewables for at least 15 years, of his efforts to white-ant the National starting in 2003 with opposition to the Boco Rock Energy Guarantee. wind farm neighbouring his family’s farm. While media fomenters of the coup to Even before he was elected to parliament in unseat Turnbull didn’t get their man into the 2013, Taylor prepared a report for the Coalition Lodge, they’ll be more than happy with the party room which advocated for the replacement man placed in the energy portfolio. of the Renewable Energy Target with several large Taylor is a protégé of ACCC chief Rod gas generators. With the tripling of gas prices since, Sims, who has railed against renewable this would have been an unmitigated disaster for subsidies for many years. Not to be Australian energy consumers, not to mention an underestimated, we can expect Taylor to Simon Holmes à Court of Melbourne industry that employs many, including in his own work diligently towards delivering Sims’ University’s Energy Transition Hub (windy!) seat of Hume, around Goulburn. recommendation to terminate support for @simonahac In June 2013 Taylor joined radio broadcaster Alan rooftop solar. Jones and almost 100 protesters at Parliament House Taylor has always preferred to work for a sad anti-wind rally. Half the attendees were reportedly journalists behind the scenes, but in his new role, any attack on renewables and political staffers. The Stop These Things rally was upstaged and will be under the spotlight, and will no doubt be met with strong outnumbered ten to one by a pro-renewables rally later that same day. resistance from the public and the renewables sector.
4 SPRING 2018
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LOCAL and GLOBAL NEWS GFG ALLIANCE FORGES AHEAD Simec Zen Energy, the Australian energy arm of Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance, has launched a $1 billion, onegigawatt dispatchable renewable energy program. The first project is the 280 MW Cultana Solar Farm which on completion will Sanjeev Gupta help power the Whyalla Liberty OneSteel steelworks. The extent of GFG’s investments in Australian renewable energy is planned to reach a monumental 10 GW. Gupta has repeatedly talked up the great future for energy-intensive industries through a transition to more renewable energy, and said “Solar will be the main base of our ambitions in Australia but we will have some wind and we have lots of storage solutions. [We have a] desire to develop and invest in new-generation energy assets that will bring down Australia’s electricity prices to competitive levels again.”
AEMO’S INTEGRATED SYSTEM PLAN
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Global electricity generated from coal and gas has fallen for a fifth consecutive year and power generated from solar has skyrocketed by around 22 per cent, according to the International Energy Agency report Electricity Information 2018: Overview.
Under the neutral
scenario forecasts, 28 GW of solar, 10.5 GW wind and 17 GW / 90 GWh storage, complemented by 500 MW of flexible gas plant and transmission investment, will produce 90 TWh (net) of energy annually, more than offsetting the 70 TWh or 70,000 GWh energy lost from retiring coal fired generation by 2040. The report states in the medium term, to the mid-2020s, there is an increasing need for significant levels of energy storage in the portfolio of new energy sources required for continued reliability and security.
BREAKTHROUGH: CSIRO technology could be the means for hydrogen to join the ranks of a mainstream vehicle fuel and rival battery-electric vehicles. The technological advance involves a metal membrane that extracts hydrogen from liquid ammonia, which is easier and more efficient to transport in bulk. The hydrogen is then converted via an onboard fuel cell stack to electricity, which is stored in a battery. Hydrogen fuel is delivered via a pump, similar to petrol or diesel, but only emits water. One drawback is that refining hydrogen from fossil fuels is cheaper and simpler at present than renewable resources. SOLAR PV in Australia is on track to reach 12 GW of installed capacity by 2020, double the current total. See PV market wrap on page 42.
6 SPRING 2018
WORD HAS SPREAD BlueScope steel is signing a 7-year power purchase agreement to take the bulk of the output from the 133 MW (AC) Finley Solar Farm 100 km west of Albury when completed. The solar power will be used for its Port Kembla Steelworks. And in North Queensland Sun Metals is tapping into a 124 MW solar plant to supply one-third of the power needs of its zinc refinery.
WIND TURBINES Construction has begun on the 530 MW Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Western Victoria which on completion will become Australia’s biggest wind farm, the 149 turbines generating enough power for 400,000 households. Eight wind farms, worth $1.07 billion, have been built under Victoria’s Labor Government, and another nine new wind farms are under construction worth $3.2 billion. STILL ON LARGE SCALE The CEFC has announced its largest investment in Tasmania, with a $59 million commitment to the $280 million, 112 MW Granville Harbour Wind Farm with 31 Vestas V126-3.6 MW wind turbines, located on a 1,200 hectare farm on Tasmania’s west coast. On completion it will boost Tasmania’s wind capacity by one third. Commercial operations are scheduled to commence in late 2019.
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Time is ticking away
A few ticks closer to irrevocable harm? In January 2018 the Doomsday Clock was set at two minutes to midnight, due to the looming threats of climate change and nuclear war. With more record-breaking temperatures, droughts and floods, what will the clock read in January 2019?
A big question mark lies over Australia’s energy and climate policy. Once again we ask ourselves: what lies ahead? Can the reshaped federal government (or the next elected party) wipe the slate clean and design a responsible energy and climate policy that gains bipartisan support?
RIGHT NOW Australia is devoid of a climate policy and carbon emissions reductions target for the electricity system post-2020 that are so urgently needed. The National Energy Guarantee is now dead, buried and cremated. Whatever forces are brought in to repackage energy policy need to undertake a sciencebased reality check to tackle the most pressing issue: a critical reduction in carbon pollution. The difference between that proposed under the NEG, namely reductions of just 0.2 per cent a year for the decade from 2020 or a total of 2 per cent are a world away from the 60 per cent target now being touted as the minimum necessary – more on that soon. Simon Holmes à Court of Melbourne University’s Energy Transition Hub was among those astonished by the absence of
reference to climate change during all the NEG discussions. He illustrated the minimal annual emissions reductions, and highlighted the magnitude of the impact on renewables under a NEG in the charts below. Along with exposing the fallacy of “bill savings” of $550 (or even $150), the number cruncher tore down the myth of grid reliability issues, given the national energy market sits at 99.998 per cent reliability. Gold plating to secure the additional 0.002 per cent reliability would cost billions of dollars, Simon said. Along with the Smart Energy Council, Simon Holmes à Court revealed the NEG for what is was – a sham of a policy that would fail to deliver on all fronts. Now, he says, “We need to fight for the energy policy that Australia deserves.”
Large-scale Renewables Build under NEG after RET Victoria
All other states (except WA) and ACT
1,000
Hydro (+0 MW)
600
400
200
Hydro (+0 MW) Wind (+0 MW) Solar (+0 MW)
800 Capacity added (MW)
800 Capacity added (MW)
1,000
Wind (+14 MW) Solar (+0 MW)
600
400
200
14 MW 0
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
Source: Energy Security Board (Guarantee results)
8 SPRING 2018
2030
0 MW 0
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
@simonahac
INCORPORATING THE
Into the void Today we are asking: “What will be the next move by the reshuffled federal cabinet and new Energy Minister Angus Taylor on energy policy… will there be an attempt to resurrect the blueprint that was described by many “the perfect policy for a climate denying government” ? And just where does the new prime minister stand on renewables, does he understand the science behind climate change? If the lacquered lump of coal Prime Minister Scott Morrison happily handled in parliament last year is any guide, any prospects of lower emissions are doomed along with Australia’s commitment to the Paris agreement. At the time of the leadership changeover in late August Scott Morrison said little in response to pointed media queries about energy and climate policy, but during his first press conference declared “the values and beliefs you [Australians] hold, the Liberal Party shares” and declared drought mitigation was the most “urgent and pressing need right now”. Predictably there was no reference to greenhouse gases in relation to the big dry, but we like to think the attention on droughtravaged Queensland and NSW could provide the necessary catalyst for a rethink. Especially if farmers such as Meg get a hearing. Speaking on ABC’s Q&A the farmer lamented
Annual temperatures for Australia (1910-2017). The colour scale goes from 20.7°C (dark blue) to 23.0°C (dark red). Source: www.climate-lab-book.ac.uk
The weather forecast is alarming
“… every day we see the impacts of climate
Australia just recorded its hottest financial
corals and sediment records from across
destabilisation. This is the reality. It’s all around
year on record with daytime temperatures
Australia. Climate sceptics please take note.
us. Our entire ecosystem is affected. And
1.46°C above the average over the period
unpredictable weather events threaten our
1961-1990 and 0.1°C warmer than the
ability to grow food for Australia and the rest of
previous financial-year record (2015-16).
the world. So don’t we need to ignore the fossil
Drought ravaged farms across NSW and
fuel donors and the lobbyists and have a good
Queensland, livestock and livelihoods at
bipartisan policy to reduce emissions, encourage
stake, winter bushfires in Australia, coral reefs
the uptake of renewable energies and protect
bleaching before our eyes.
our ability to grow the nation’s food?” However it is now evident that the new Energy Minister, and anti-wind campaigner, has been asked to focus on energy reliability and reducing power prices rather than reducing emissions. Australia remains devoid of a national climate change policy.
What more evidence is needed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that climate change has taken hold? Last year University of Melbourne researchers
Elsewhere around the globe: unprecedented heat and bushfires in the Arctic circle, parts of Europe and California; extensive flooding in Japan and India, to list just some of the hardest hit regions. The world has suffered the hottest five years ever recorded and the mercury continues to rise (along with sea levels) with 2018 tipped to be one of the hottest ever and the grim prospect of more drought, flooding
reported the current droughts in Australia are
and landslides, more frequent and extreme
worse than any in 800 years. The scientific
hurricanes and cyclones. Costs arising from loss
findings were based on tree rings, ice cores,
and damage are incalculable.
Price point?
among average Australians, including those in
Essential Media reports 54 per cent of those
What we do know is the new PM has expressed
safe Liberal seats, about the environment and
surveyed linked the current drought to human
a desire to bring down power prices by
the overwhelming support for clean, renewable
induced climate change, and are agitating for
wielding a big stick at the energy companies
power, not new coal plants.
change, for Australia to lift its game and step
and wants to “back investment in new energy generation capacity”. What new energy generation that might be remains to be seen but given the desire to follow the values and beliefs of Australians the prime minister needs to take on board the findings of successive polls that reveal the deep concern
“Energy is not just about jobs, new technology, air quality and cheaper power bills, it is the key determinant of whether humanity survives in an age of rapidly accelerating global warming.” Christine Milne Solar & Storage 9
ENERGY AND CLIMATE POLICY
“New Prime Minister Scott Morrison really needs to get into line with the smart 21st century technology
up to speed on global warming.”
that’s planet friendly. When weighing up new
Resident of PM’s electorate of Cook
capacity, scrutiny over the cost of coal and the cost to health, community and ecosystems caused by the failure to decarbonise need to take top priority. Is there a glimmer of hope? One source suggests that Scott Morrison’s position on investment in new coal plants is that they won’t bring down prices and “probably don’t make much sense”. The reality is reliable, dispatchable and lower-cost power is now available from renewable energy sources far more effectively and cheaply than from coal. In short there is no rational argument for polluting coal plants in the future energy market. Instead there are dangers.
A moral, economical and environmental imperative Ex-oil executive Ian Dunlop says “Many parliamentarians are climate deniers, but that does not absolve them of the fiduciary responsibility to set aside their personal prejudices and to act in the public interest with integrity, fairness and accountability. “This requires them to understand the latest climate science; it is not acceptable for those in positions of public trust to dismiss scientific warnings in the cavalier manner … particularly when the risk is existential. “Ministers in particular do not seem to understand that they have that fiduciary responsibility, along with the related public duty and a public trust.” His views are paralleled by Oliver Yates of UPC Renewables who questions how “anyone
to drive forward – faster,” said the man who has long beaten the drum about the need for investment certainty based on climate science. “Put in a 2 per cent a year minimum emissions reduction floor and we can move forward being selfish rather than immoral,” said Yates who successfully steered the Clean Energy Finance Corporation for many years and now sits on the board of the Smart Energy Council.
The heat is on Global environmental ambassador Christine Milne agrees. “Emission reduction ambition needs rapid ratcheting up, not winding down,” she said. “What’s good for renewable energy is also good for the earth and that is not an energy policy with a locked-in weak climate target. “The fires and heat wave in the Northern Hemisphere and the extreme drought in Australia make it patently clear that we are in the fight of our lives against runaway global warming. Human survival depends on us moving to 100 per cent renewable energy as quickly as we can and we in Australia are in a prime position to move fast,” she told Solar & Storage. “It will be good for jobs, our health and our future. That is why all the talk of power prices and energy security to justify a fossil fuel subsidy in the form of a low emission reduction target in energy policy is so disingenuous in the face of the death of the Great Barrier Reef, drought,
with a pulse and a conscience” could plausibly support new coal plants or anything other than renewable energy, or lead a party hell bent on further destruction caused by human induced climate change. “You have to talk about climate change and you need to be responsible but the party does not get the economic need to manage future risk,” he says. “The NEG had an emission reduction target of just 0.2 per cent a year. The support and acceptance of that target by any politician or business leader who is not ignorant must therefore represent a willingness to intentionally inflict damage. “Simply put, it is evil. And those corporate leaders who support such a target should consult their insurance policies, their board and their investors. “We need to gear up, not slow down the renewable energy industry – we cannot morally continue to ignore and hurt people. We need
10 SPRING 2018
SRES under threat Another question mark hangs over ACCC’s recommendation to scrap the Small Scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) that would increase cost of rooftop PV by more than a third, and in so doing slash demand and put thousands of jobs at risk – and more. As Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes explained, the SRES is the instrument which effectively pays for carbon abatement. The renewables-friendly state of Victoria swiftly stepped in to announce an antidote: half price rooftop PV and discounts on solar water systems saving households thousands of dollars. A vote wining strategy that takes the state closer to its 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025 and would cut carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes.
heat and misery. Tell us how much the Reef and the drought are costing, Prime Minister.” According to the report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that is due for publication in October nothing less than a 60 per cent reduction in electricity emissions is necessary in the decade to 2030. The target is way beyond Australia’s woeful ambition of just 2 per cent in the decade to 2030 under the now-suspended NEG.
The way forward? ANU Professor Frank Jotzo wonders whether in the absence of a NEG or bipartisan climate and energy policy it’s possible for the States to construct a better emissions mechanism. “In the struggle over the future of conservative politics in Australia, carbon policy has been taken hostage every time over the last decade … but what all of the business community wants is greater predictability for investment conditions in energy, and most want a steer towards a lower emissions system” he says. “Meanwhile, the states and territories might have their chance to shine. No longer is there the constraint of needing to come up with a scheme that passes muster with the federal government’s backbenchers. This should free up the states and territories to champion a better design. “Fundamentally, however, the National Electricity Market is under the states’ control. So if the states chose then they could push ahead in one way or another.” There is also the prospect of a change in federal government by autumn next year, and the ALP is delivering more encouraging aspirations. Opposition leader Bill Shorten has called for a “clear plan for more affordable, cleaner energy” and reiterated Labor’s commitment to reaching 50 per cent renewable energy in Australia by 2030. Before then, who knows. But how much longer can the hard right hold the nation hostage to progress and climate mitigation? The battle is far from over. Meantime, given the spills and thrills in Canberra someone quipped spare a thought for paramedics, attending 000 pickups and asking patients ‘Who is prime minister?’ The show goes on. Meanwhile see pages 39 and 42 that demonstrate widespread community support for solar PV. Clearly, Australians are prepared to move forward.
INCORPORATING THE
ENERGY POLICY
The Finkel 49 Dan Cass of The Australia Institute hails the Finkel 49 that smooths the inevitable transition from coal to renewables. BY THE TIME you read this issue of Solar & Storage, we should have discovered the fate of the National Energy Guarantee. Like everyone else who cares about clean energy, I am deeply concerned that we achieve a strong and rational energy policy. Australia needs a comprehensive plan to join the exciting transition underway around the world from fossil fuels to clean energy. Australia has twenty coal-fired power stations and there is no rational economic reason to expect any of them to be replaced with coal once they reach the ends of their lives. We have to ask how can we best govern, plan and manage the National Electricity Market to make smooth this inevitable transition from coal to clean energy? The federal government and all state and territory governments have already given an answer to this question – the ‘Finkel 49’.
Innovation and the Finkel 49 In 2017, the groundbreaking Finkel Review made fifty recommendations and forty-nine of them were agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments. (The Clean Energy Target was embraced then rejected and eventually morphed into the NEG.) These 49 consensus measures include important governance reforms that will improve the political level of the NEM to end the buck passing and speed up the transition process. There is also an inspiring vision for ‘renewable energy zones’ around the country, areas with rich solar or wind resources that are best suited for large scale developments. These would be serviced by new transmission and interconnectors to deliver the clean energy to consumers. This work has taken a big step forward with AEMO’s recent publication of the NEM’s first and long-overdue Integrated System Plan (See Figure 1). COAG also agreed to create a market for ‘negawatts’ of demand response in which households and small businesses can Figure 1: Renewable energy zones mapped by AEMO’s Integrated System Plan which easily participate and sell energy conservation and even frequency were proposed by Finkel Review and emergency services. The Finkel Review was enthusiastic about the potential of reliability of the grid. The Finkel Review discussed the ability of wind clean energy to replace the system reliability services provided by fossil turbines to provide this same ‘synthetic inertia’ in the NEM to maintain fuel generators. For example, in 2005 Québec’s grid operator mandated reliability when coal plants retire. that wind turbines provide frequency control services, to maintain the As long as energy policy does not act as a barrier, much of the progress we must make in energy transformation can be driven by technological innovators including start-ups and ARENA, investors including the CEFC, state governments and millions of solar citizens. The Finkel 49 reforms provide a blueprint for the right processes and plans to facilitate this transformation. The great news for consumers is that smart energy can clean up emissions at the same time as it creates new forms of reliability and security for the grid, and put downward pressure on prices.
Popular, ‘prosumer’ power Figure 2: ‘My Energy’, an app concept that allows prosumers to trade electricity and ‘negawatts’ and even donate it to their community
12 SPRING 2018
A cluster of the Finkel Review recommendations were about opening up the market to competition from residences and small businesses and new business models and services, such as demand response.
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ENERGY POLICY
The most exciting segment of this new market are the ‘prosumers’, small consumers who also produce their own power. More than 1.5 million households in Australia have solar PV and as 2016 polling from The Australia Institute showed, four in five of them are interested in getting storage batteries. In demand response, consumers reduce their consumption and this competes in the wholesale market against generation, pitting ‘negawatts’ of energy saved against megawatts of energy generated. This has the potential to provide income for consumers, stabilise the grid and reduce emissions. It is a perfect example of solving the trilemma with smart tech and smart regulation. ARENA, AEMO and the NSW government are currently implementing a very successful $35.7 million trial that uses demand response to keep the grid stable over summer peaks. This was another of the 98 per cent consensus recommendations of the Finkel Review.
New technologies In 2016-17, The Australia Institute collaborated with Neo, a behaviour centred design company, to understand how these new technologies can empower the prosumer. We produced a short video about our concept for a ‘My Energy’ app, which was covered by the Herald Sun (see Figure 2). We demonstrated a user-friendly way to power down and cash up through demand response.
Figure 3: Renewable energy generation as a proportion of total generation is steadily rising Solar prosumers could even donate surplus energy to those needing it. The public interest is there. The Australia Institute commissioned a national poll in September 2017 which found that two thirds of respondents say the best way to plan for peak demand is with demand response, not new power plants. To make this happen we need to get Australia’s emissions policy right and at the same time, we need to keep up the pace of reform, to open up the NEM to competition from smart, new technologies. Our old ways are becoming more and more unreliable. The Australia Institute’s Gas & Coal Watch provides a regular insight into the unreliability of our current fleet of coal and gas generators. For example, in early June 2018,
while electricity spot prices soared to over $2400/MWh, we showed that up to 52 per cent (6.4 W) of New South Wales’ coal and gas power generation capacity was idle or unavailable, largely because of breakdowns. The state’s two new combined cycle gas plants, designed to provide back-up dispatchable energy and help meet peak demand, remained offline or operated at less than half their capacity during five high price events. The Finkel 49 gives us a roadmap for transforming the grid and opening up the NEM to competition, a battle that clean energy will, eventually and inevitably, win. Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s annual global survey, the New Energy Outlook, shows that even without a strong, bipartisan climate target, an open market would see 98 per cent of our existing coal generation phased out by 2050.
National Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Register
Cleaning up our act
Battery storage systems are becoming more popular and many Australian households have installed systems. It is expected that under a high-growth scenario, around 450,000 energy storage systems could be installed by 2020. In addition, the combination of residential and commercial energy storage could deliver 3 GWh of distributed storage by 2020 (source: Australian Energy Storage Market Analysis, Smart Energy Council, June 2018). However, actual data is difficult to obtain because households are not required to provide information to regulators or their energy utilities – unlike rooftop solar where financial incentives require the registration of solar PV systems. In late 2017, to assist with energy network planning the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council approved a rule change and designated the Australian Energy Market Operator as the manager
The biggest imperative for energy reform is global warming. We must decarbonise rapidly, because the planet has already warmed by one degree and the scientists are making ever more worrying warnings. For example, in August 2018 a new study indicated that the planet is close to reaching a point where feedback mechanisms take control of the rate of global warming Australia has to do its part and the energy sector is the key. The cheapest, fastest and most popular way to slash the national carbon budget is go clean: renewables, storage, energy conservation and related technologies like demand response and EVs. Progress is already underway and we need to keep up the momentum (See Figure 3). If the NEG or its successor does not get in the way, then the 98 per cent of the Finkel Review recommendations which have been agreed are a big next step on the road to smart energy.
14 SPRING 2018
of a new national DER register. What kinds of information will be collected in the new registry? • Location; • Make and model; • Battery capacity; and • Device settings.
Information collection in the interim and in the new registry Customer information will be collected by agents (electricians and installers) and distribution businesses. The Smart Energy Council encourages disclosure of information as the aggregated data assists reporting, decision making and informs policy making. This data is not currently publicly available. For more information about the rule change and the register please visit: www.aemc.gov.au/ and www.aemo.com.au/
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INCORPORATING THE
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AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST FREE SOLAR, STORAGE & SMART ENERGY EXPO
SAVE THE DATE TUESDAY 2 & WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 2019 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE SYDNEY The Smart Energy Council’s Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition 2019 will be our 57th annual expo. Smart Energy 2019 will be a showcase of the latest products, innovation and business smarts. Attendees will hear from people and businesses that are the driving force of solar, storage and smart energy. Our show is building each year with: Over 6,000 attendees Over 90 expert presentations CPD points for sessions Learn from the best
The 2019 show is set to shine as the smart energy industry continues its stellar trajectory with record numbers of rooftop PV installations and large scale plants commissioned. Come along and hear what’s in store for 2019 and beyond, with more coal-fired powered stations being replaced with clean energy systems and distributed energy. Industry analysts, politicians, bureaucrats, innovators, investors, manufacturers, trainers across the three conference streams will deliver expert analysis and opinion and showcase the latest technologies with a strong emphasis on storage and batteries, energy efficiency and the sustainable and built environment.
“2018 – another record breaking year for small and large scale solar PV and wind. What will 2019 bring?” – John Grimes, Smart Energy Council
2019 Conference streams include Applied Energy Storage
“I formed connections with many knowledgeable people in the energy, housing and sustainability areas at this well attended event.”
Professional Development Installer
- John Shiel, Beyond Zero Emissions
Smart Energy Solutions
The Smart Energy event also presents the perfect opportunity to network with like-minded specialists across the entire solar spectrum. But that is just the start! A hall full of local and global exhibitors will showcase their products and services to the thousands of delegates expected at Smart Energy 2019. The successful 2018 event attracted 4,400 delegates who viewed the more than 80 exhibitors and had the opportunity to listen to the 120 conference presenters.
Why Exhibit at Smart Energy 2019 Direct access to your target market when they are open, available and keen to meet suppliers Formal and informal networking opportunities Increased brand awareness Enhanced company profile through affiliation with a trusted and respected industry body Opportunity to display and demonstrate products Opportunity to develop relationships and leads. Don’t pass up this prime marketing opportunity to profile your organisation through exhibition or sponsorship at what will be the solar event of 2019. Exhibition spaces are filling fast with sales faster than the previous year.
Book early to get the best spaces and sponsorship items Telephone +61 402 181 250 Email brett@smartenergy.org.au Web www.smartenergyexpo.org.au POWERED BY
“A fantastic event to showcase the emerging technologies in the smart energy industry, and demonstrate our world leading capabilities that we have developed here in Australia.” - Mark McAnulty, Reposit Power “Smart Energy is a fantastic opportunity for installers to meet directly with manufacturers and distributors. Strong relationships with suppliers is the secret ingredient that separates good solar businesses from great ones. Attending Smart Energy is the first step in taking your business from good to great!” - Grant Behrendorff, AC Solar Warehouse “We have received a sharp upturn of enquiries in our new product since exposure at the Smart Energy Conference and Expo.” - Peter Smith, Linked Energy
Renewables ramp up Global energy shift 66% fossil fuel energy in 2017
TO
66% renewable energy by 2050
$
US$11.5 trillion = global investment in new power generation capacity 2018–2050 US$8.4 trillion wind and solar + $1.5 trillion other zero-carbon technologies e.g. hydro, nuclear 29% by 2050 = global electricity production from fossil fuels 71% zero-carbon electricity by 2050 (solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, others) 71% down by 2050 = cost of average PV plant
+ – “50 by 50” = 50% wind + 50% solar technology =
50% total electricity by 2050
58% down by 2050 = cost of wind energy US$548 billion by 2050 = i nvestment in battery capacity
11% by 2050 = c oal is biggest loser in global
electricity generation by 2050
38% = coal’s current contribution +3,461 TWh by 2050 = g lobal new electricity
demand added by EVs
=
9% total global demand
Source: New Energy Outlook 2018 by Bloomberg New Energy Finance
Australia’s shortfall, short odds 70 TWh or 70,000 GWh = annual “conventional” energy produced by generators that are retiring by 2040
Lowest cost replacement 28 GW solar
= 33% total NEM consumption
10.5 GW wind 17 GW /90 GWh storage 500 MW of gas + transmission investment =
90 TWh (net) of energy per annum
Source: AEMO’s Integrated System Plan (ISP) ‘neutral’ scenario
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STORAGE ROUNDUP Battery standards in sight Australia’s strong market for battery storage is set to be further
is proving more popular by the day and greater certainly will be reflected
strengthened with a nationwide battery performance standard currently
in a greater take up of smart energy technologies that bring all-round
under development. The $3.12 million project is being part funded by
benefits,” John Grimes said. “It’s good for households, industry and the
ARENA which is injecting $1.4 million, with the Victorian Government
environment.
contributing $500,000. The Smart Energy Council is partnering with DNV GL, CSIRO and Deakin University on a major 24-month long project to develop a draft national standard for the performance of batteries installed with solar PV systems. The purpose of the standard is to enable homeowners to make an informed decision on different batteries and determine what’s best for their needs.
The project The project will cover battery systems ranging from residential to small commercial systems, with a maximum size of 100 kW power capacity and 200 kWh energy capacity connected to a solar PV system. The process will include a comprehensive ‘gap analysis’ of existing local and international battery storage performance standards; performance testing of batteries; and the development of a proposed Standard for battery performance. A Guideline based on the proposed Standard will also be developed for use by industry stakeholders in the interim prior to a Standard being finalised through Standards Australia. Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said the project will
“The Smart Energy Council is pleased to be playing a role in the development of standards that benefit homeowners and the solar and storage sector.” DNV GL Vice-President Technology & Innovation for Energy Lucy Craig regards energy storage as a vital component in the transition to a greener energy future, “and through efforts of providing the industry with performance standards, we are supporting the safe and sustainable development of the energy storage sector. “We look forward to building on these efforts to create a vibrant and lasting energy storage market for Australia,” she said. ARENA’s outgoing chief executive Ivor Frischknecht commented on the difficulty for consumers to make a well-informed choice presented a barrier to uptake of battery storage, but this project will give consumers a more informed choice and increased confidence in deciding to invest in home batteries and rooftop solar. He said it would also give people easy to access information on how reliable the batteries are and how well they perform over their lifetime in Australian conditions. The project will analyse Australian and international battery performance
help residential and small business consumers make more informed buying
testing and consult with stakeholders in order to come up with a proposed
decisions and drive confidence in the battery storage market.
Australian Battery Performance Standard. This will initiate the formal
He sees it fulfilling a dual pronged purpose saying it will be important that the final version of the standard facilitates the emerging industry
standard development process with Standards Australia. The Smart Energy Council will Chair the Stakeholder Reference Group
while ensuring safety for owners and installers. “This is a timely as well as
and during the two year project will work closely with the battery storage
a positive step forward for the industry and for consumers. Home storage
industry. IMAGE COURTESY REDBACK TECHNOLOGIES
20 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
ITP Renewables lithium-ion battery trial: an update Under an ARENA funded project, ITP Renewables is testing the performance of a number of different residential or small commercial-scale battery packs in a purpose-built climate-controlled enclosure at the Canberra Institute of Technology. Undergoing multiple cycles per day under varying temperatures the batteries are subjected to harsh conditions as part of the performance testing. Nonetheless, the batteries are operating within their allowable ranges and under conditions likely to be experienced in real world operation in Australia, albeit much less frequently. The fourth public report outlining the progress and results of the trial was released in March 2018. This report covers ongoing commissioning and operational challenges associated with new and established energy storage products under test in the trial, and assesses the characteristic capacity fade of the batteries under test in the facility. All four public reports published so far are accessible in the complete form on the Battery Test Centre Website with the fifth six-monthly report due for publication at the end of September 2018. The most notable recent developments with the trial have included a number of products being retired or replaced due to faults or failures with the batteries. The GNB and CALB batteries continue to participate in the trial however their functionality remains heavily impaired due to battery system issues. The Tesla Powerwall 2 has finally entered operation in the trial as Tesla has managed to implement its device control system almost a year after the initial release of the product. The Alpha, BYD, GNB Lithium, LG Chem, Pylontech, Samsung, Sony and Tesla Powerwall 1 batteries are continuing to operate without any major concerns. This article by Jonathon Kennedy of ITP Renewables. Full test results and copies of the six-monthly reports are accessible in their complete form on the Battery Test Centre website http://batterytestcentre.com.au/ IMAGES COURTESY ITP RENEWABLES
Bigger and better: set to eclipse Australia’s world record storage battery Over in the US, Pacific Gas and Electric is planning four energy storage projects totaling about 2,270 MWh to replace three gas power plants and take the title of the largest utility-owned, non-hydro storage project in the world. The announcement includes what is set to be the largest lithium-ion battery installation of its kind: a 300 MW, 1,200 MWh storage project - three times the size of the current world record held by Tesla‘s 100 MW, 129 MWh battery in South Australia. The technology risk of battery storage is descried as minimal, with developers expressing “full faith” the project can deliver the promised benefits at a competitive cost.
Solar & Storage 21
STORAGE NEWS
Big battery ARENA has announced $5 million in funding to Infigen to install a 25 MW / 52 MWh Tesla battery at the Lake Bonney Wind Farm north east of Adelaide. The $38 million project is also supported by the South Australian Government with a $5 million grant under its Renewable Technology Fund. The grid scale battery will be built adjacent to Infigen’s existing 278.5 MW wind farm. Infigen will build and operate the facility which will be connected to grid via the Mayurra substation, near Mount Gambier in the state’s south east. The battery will deliver flexible capacity and system security services, such as Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS), to the electricity grid in South Australia. ARENA‘s Ivor Frischknecht said battery storage was increasingly becoming a key component of transitioning to an energy system powered by renewables. “It is clear that grid scale batteries have an important role in stabilising the grid,” he said, referring in part to ARENA’s $12 million contribution towards the $30 million 30 MW ESCRI battery soon to be commissioned at Dalrymple South Australia, and $25 million committed to two grid scale batteries currently under construction in western Victoria. “The co-location of a battery with a wind farm provides an opportunity for Infigen to pursue regulatory changes that could improve revenue outcomes for grid-scale batteries, helping them to become more competitive,” Frischknecht said. IMAGE COURTESY ITP RENEWABLES
World turns to storage – Australia leads the pack Turning to the world market, here we take a look at GTM Research’s Global Energy Storage: 2017 Year In Review and 2018-2022 Outlook. The year 2017 was hailed one of the most exciting years yet for energy storage with a total of 1.4 GW and 2.3 GWh of energy storage deployed globally. Australia took pole position in terms of power capacity at 246 MW, while the US market led the world in terms of energy capacity at 431 MWh. The world’s biggest residential storage market in 2017 was Australia, which saw a tripling of residential storage deployments over the previous year. GTM cited high retail electricity rates and diminishing or expiring feed-in tariffs as triggers that encouraged residential solar customers to choose storage for self-consumption benefits. “As a result, for the past few years, Australia has been the preferred testbed for new residential energy storage products, as several technology vendors have first introduced their residential product portfolios in Australia,” the report read. The charts to the right help paint the picture and take a look at the close future in which the Australian market slips to a fourth but still impressive spot on the globe, ahead of Germany, the UK and India.
22 SPRING 2018
Annual Energy Storage Deployments by Market, 2017 (MW and MWh) Source: GTM Research
Cumulative Energy Storage Outlook by Market, 2013-2022E (MW and MWh) Source: GTM Research
INCORPORATING THE
Innovation for a Better Life
Change Your Energy Charge Your Life THE COMPACT & POWERFUL ENERGY STORAGE FOR YOUR HOME
Grid-scale
Residential
Commercial & Industrial
Compact Size & Easy Installation
●
Proven Safety
●
Diverse Product Options
UPS
With 23 years of experience in the global energy sector, LG Chem is an industry leader of Lithium-ion batteries www.lgesspartner.com
●
2016 RESU Series with New Li-ion Battery 2017 Stand-alone Battery Module (SBM)
BATTERY BEST PRACTICE GUIDE A 40-PAGE BATTERY GUIDE has been developed by industry for industry: the Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage
A guide
Equipment – Electrical Safety Requirements. The purpose of the new Guide is to provide a minimum level of electrical safety criteria that industry experts
for use by
accept as suitable with the known risks and issues, which will enable manufacturers, importers, installers and
those in the
others in the supply chain to more easily identify and address issues in battery storage equipment.
supply chain of battery storage equipment to demonstrate their battery storage equipment meets industry best practice electrical safety standards.
Manufacturers and importers who apply the safety criteria contained in the Guide are effectively indicating their equipment meets the minimum acceptable level for safety for installation in household environments, which provides an acceptable level of protection against hazards. For the convenience of users, the Guide is accompanied by a Battery Energy Storage Equipment Risk Matrix in simple-to-read spreadsheet format. LITHIUM BATTERIES: the Guide applies exclusively to lithium-based battery energy storage equipment which is the predominant technology used in household storage systems. It includes suggested safety requirements for: • Battery module (BM) • Pre-assembled battery system (BS), and • Pre-assembled integrated battery energy storage system (BESS) The Guide covers battery storage equipment with a rated capacity of equal to or greater than 1 kWh and up to and including 200 kWh of energy storage capacity when measured at 0.1°C. Note: The Guide does not cover the installation of the battery storage equipment WHO CAN USE THE GUIDE? Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, installers, test facilities, certifiers,
a minimum requirement for the battery storage systems they
Products that “ meet this guide will
wish to purchase.
send a message
industry associations for listings or industry programs for supply. Purchasers too can use the Guide in order to specify
WHY: Prior to this Guide being developed, there was no specific product safety standard
about a consistent
expressly covering the risks of a completed battery storage equipment assembly in a
level of safety
household situation.
and that should
DEVELOPED BY AND FOR INDUSTRY: The Smart Energy Council played a role in developing the
give customers
Guide that also had input from CSIRO, Australian Industry Group, Consumer Electronics
confidence that
Suppliers Association and the Clean Energy Council. The Guide:
these products can
• Is free to download and can be used by anyone.
be safely installed
• Is voluntary, but action can be taken by regulatory agencies due to misleading claims or
and operated in
issues of non-compliance to electrical safety legislative requirements. • Will be reviewed every 12 months and updates considered.
or outside their
• Can be used in conjunction with the development of an Australian safety standard for
house,” John Grimes
installation of battery storage equipment (AS/NZS 5139 when published).
said. “Lithium-ion
WHERE TO FIND: The Best Practice Guide: Battery Storage Equipment – Electrical Safety
batteries are used
Requirements and associated risk matrix are online and available for download at
in many household
batterysafetyguide.com.au
battery storage systems which is why the Guide focuses on that popular technology.
”
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STORAGE STUDY
Storage today and tomorrow The global “ electricity sector
ENERGY STORAGE WILL BE CRUCIAL in the
business models that assist consumers to install
successful transformation of the Australian
and finance quality products, according to the
electricity network and a catalyst for growth in
report from the Office of the Chief Scientist.
the Australian economy, according to the paper
At the other end of the scale there is a
Taking Charge: The Energy Storage Opportunity
challenge for policymakers to replicate small
For Australia.
battery flexibility and reliability at scale: to put
Authored by the Office of the Chief Scientist,
storage at the heart of a smarter electricity grid, the paper states.
is undergoing
the paper notes that in 2017 Australia was the
unprecedented
battery storage in terms of power capacity, with
per cent of electricity storage worldwide and is
change as
the number of residential battery systems installed
today’s most cost-effective technology for long-
reaching 21,000 systems – a trebling from the
policymakers
duration, grid-scale energy storage to help meet
previous year.
peak demand. However pumped hydro, batteries
strive to develop
storage capacity providing on average 1.6 hours
fraction of the installed capacity of global energy
systems that
of supply in 2017, Australia led the way on the
networks.
deliver affordable,
for 1.7 hours, and has become a leader for new
storage deployed on a grand scale: supporting
reliable and low-
energy storage products.
the transition to renewable generation sources,
emissions supply,
more than 1.8 million buildings (primarily
and troughs of renewable energy generation
[and] energy
residential) fitted with rooftop solar panels, the
and helping to match energy supply to energy
addition of a home battery system is a logical next
storage will be
demand, and empowering consumers to manage
step and prices are on a downward trajectory
their costs.
world leader in the installation of residential
transformation.
installation of power capacity, with 246 MW
The report cites enormous potential. With
making widespread adoption more feasible.
a key factor in a successful
Out of a worldwide total of 1.4 GW of battery
”
Pumped hydro currently accounts for 97
and other energy storage technologies make up a
In future, energy analysts expect to see energy
playing a key role by smoothing out the peaks
Batteries come with the advantage of initially
The lack of information is a barrier: A survey
being installed as small units then scaled up
of more than 1,000 people commissioned by
as needs and funds arise. Further, they can be
ACOLA found just 12 per cent of respondents
installed close to where they are needed, making
thought they were moderately or very familiar
the transmission costs either small or non-
with home battery storage. However greater
existent.
public awareness of home battery systems is likely to occur with the emergence of new
The conclusions reached by the Office of the Chief Scientist parallel those of AEMO in
IMAGES COURTESY: FLUENCE CORPORATION
26 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
its Integrated System Plan that assumes in the medium term to the mid-2020s an increasing need for significant levels of energy storage in the portfolio of new energy sources required for continued reliability and security. In its vision for the future AEMO, which notes a substantial portion of the NEM’s conventional generation fleet will be retired during the next two decades, concludes renewable energy will inevitably transform the grid. Australia will be powered by renewables with storage, as well as gas, and these technologies have the ability to replace the power currently supplied by coal generators at least cost, says AEMO. There you have it: all the key matters – reliability, security, emissions and the cost of power – that are central to the debate over the future of energy supplies. The vision of the future presented by well-informed thought leaders should be primary references for those involved in shaping tomorrow’s energy market.
DID YOU KNOW? No fewer than 12 Australian universities are actively pursuing energy storage projects, in addition to the leading public research agencies CSIRO and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Taking Charge: The Energy Storage Opportunity For Australia also documented the opportunity for Australia to expand mineral exports, especially lithium used in batteries, and to be a leader in the production and export of renewable hydrogen.
The Occasional paper was authored by Clinton Porteous, Bruce Godfrey and Alan Finkel from the Office of the Chief Scientist. These papers aim to highlight scientific issues of importance to Australian society.
HOME STORAGE
SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
Why Australia is ripe for the development of solar and storage Here Redback Technologies takes a look at the increasingly important and popular role of home energy storage systems.
AUSTRALIA IS IN RAPID TRANSITION to become a renewable energy super power. A recent report published by the United Nations revealed Australia’s investment into renewable power has jumped almost 150 per cent in the last 12 months, propelled to a large extent by the increasing applications of combined solar and storage solutions in residential and utility scale. One of the key reasons we’re seeing a proliferation of solar and storage in private homes is because of local start-ups who are making this technology readily available and affordable to homeowners. Making renewable energy affordable is the reason Redback Technologies, exists. We put power back in the hands of the people who generate it and give them more control. We do this by continuously investing in innovation to push our solar and storage solution further, setting industry benchmarks. Redback is a product of University of Queensland (UQ) and the Queensland Government’s ilab initiative and is actually the first investment made by UQ into a company where it didn’t originate the IP. This collaboration model, a first for Australia, enabled rapid commercialization of research and development bringing affordable and accessible solar solutions to all Australians. Our local team consisting of experts from all fields is continuously pushing the envelope in terms of hardware and software development. The result of these efforts is an all-in-one, cloud-connected solar hybrid inverter and storage solution that is easy and fast to install, simple to use and affordable for Australian home-owners. Our intuitive user interface allows users to monitor their system performance in real time, monitoring their daily power coming from their solar panels, protecting home-owners against power outages and price increases. The integrated batteries capture the power of your solar
system during the daytime and supplying your family with self-generated electricity in the evening. Redback’s easy and fast to install design keeps the cost of installation low resulting in fast pay-back times.
Why Australians are taking up solar and storage For many homeowners, one of the biggest challenges when it comes to power bills is feeling the need to sacrifice comfort in order to save money. Additionally, not having knowledge into how much power each appliance uses means they cannot make informed decisions about their usage. This need to be better informed is a key motivation for a number of our customers who invest in Redback’s Smart Hybrid System, including Michael Roberts who lives on the Sunshine Coast and knew he could achieve significant cost savings on his power bills by implementing a smart solar and storage system at his home with power generated used in real time or stored in batteries to use at peak periods like the evening. The power generated by his solar system, the available power in his battery and the energy used in his home is tracked within the Redback app which enables him to monitor his power use and provide up to date information on household consumption. The benefits of smart monitoring systems like those in our system are tangible, enabling homeowners like Michael to maximise his return on investment. Since installation, Michael has been able to decrease his overall impact on the environment and contribute to significant cost savings and credits on his power bills.
Smarter energy We want all Australians to be in control of their energy consumption and cost of electricity. At Redback Technologies, we’re continually investing in research and development to further improve the design and capabilities of our smart solar and storage systems. Safety, ease of use and affordability are our top priorities as we strive to give all Australians access to affordable, green power. Record breaking installation figures every month are clear evidence that the path to cleaner and affordable energy for all Australians is through solar power. But the transition to a cleaner energy ecosystem of tomorrow to a very large extent relies on the confidence and investments made by private households. This is why we at Redback focus on addressing their concerns by ensuring a quick return on investment, cheaper electricity bills and reliable and secure power. Australia has abundant sunshine and we Australians have a healthy appetite for solar energy – now it’s up to companies like Redback to provide innovative solutions to match. www.redbacktech.com
Opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Smart Energy Council 28 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
ENERGY STORAGE ECONOMICS
Energy Storage Economics – choosing the right sized battery to reduce peak demand Warwick Forster explains the intricacies involved in optimising battery investment.
THERE IS A REAL NEED to change our energy mix to cleaner sources to minimise its impact on climate, and energy storage is often proposed as a way to assist in the facilitation of higher levels of renewable energy generation. Much of my recent work has been in this area where the economic analysis of energy storage is crucial to ensure the appropriate system is employed, especially in cases where the technology is still expensive. When looking at the economics of energy storage, the area that causes most initial confusion is the distinction between energy (in kWh or MWh) and power (kW or MW). Depending on the application, there may be a focus on power or energy i.e. for applications such as some off-grid systems, frequency control, or energy market arbitrage the focus may be on power, while in others such as grid connected batteries or battery back-up the need for low cost per unit of energy storage may be important. Usually, on a cost per kWh it is more expensive to have a more powerful battery i.e. if we had a 1 MWh battery and there were three power ratings available in the market of 2 MW, 1 MW and 500 kW, we would expect the 2 MW to be most expensive, then the 1 MW and finally the 500 kW solution. It might seem simple then just to buy the cheapest per kWh energy storage system but this is not always the case as it is best to work out the most economic
choice i.e. one needs to compare the value of the potential savings from different configurations and then examine this against the purchase price. As an example, we have taken the 2017 historic load in South Australia and compared different power ratings, for where the battery has 30 minutes, one hour or two hours of storage with a round trip efficiency of 90 per cent to see how different systems perform in minimising the annual peak demand. In this analysis, there are two measures; the demand reduction in MW for each storage solution depending upon the MW power rating, and the effectiveness of the chosen solution in MW per MWh of storage. Although increasing the size of the battery increases the reduction in peak demand, the system becomes less effective per unit of energy in reducing this figure. If in this example, the battery faced a fixed annual peak demand charge, then a smaller battery size may be a better investment unless the battery’s economics improve faster with scale. Also, batteries with higher power (or less energy capacity for a given power rating) have a better financial return which needs to be assessed against their likely higher cost. As an example, at 50 MW, there is no benefit in having a one hour battery as against a 30 minute battery, so only after the installed costs are known can an assessment be made of the optimal economic solution. This example only looks at demand reduction but it shows that a thorough analysis is required to understand the economics. Similar effort needs to be taken to analyse system size for wholesale market or retail price arbitrage, ancillary service markets and for network support. Once these other income streams are identified, the potential conflicts between these opportunities must be assessed. Ideally, further analysis will overlay other factors such as battery degradation, different technology characteristics such as useful life, roundtrip efficiency and depth of discharge limitations, each of which will usually result in a reduced economic return. Only when all of this is performed can a proper assessment of a battery‘s investment be carried out. Apogee Energy is a boutique energy consulting business with a focus on renewables development and sustainability. It provides cost effective economic advisory solutions to business, government and NGOs. www.apogeeenergy.com.au
30 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
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ELECTRIC VEHICLES
EVs gear up A SLOW BUT SURE SHIFT is underway in Australia’s vehicle fleet which recorded sales of 2,284 electric vehicles during 2017, representing a 67
Electric vehicle sales in Australia may be in the slow lane but they are heading in the right direction and with the right settings in place could speed up.
per cent increase growth on 2016. The number of electric vehicle models available for sale in Australia has also increased by 44 per cent from 2016 to 2017, and still on tallies: the number of charging stations in Australia increased by two thirds from 2017 to 2018. That means there is approximately one charging station for every six electric vehicles, according to Climate Works and the Electric Vehicle Council.
Charging infrastructure Charging infrastructure has long been recognised as one of the three key drivers for mass market uptake of electric vehicles, and to support a market where electric vehicles represent all new vehicles sales a network of around 28,500 public access fast charging points would be needed Australia-wide. Of course that comes at a cost: it is estimated that building such a network would require around $1.7 billion of private and public investment. Climate Works State of electric vehicles in Australia identified more than 99 per cent of daily trips are under 50 kilometres, implying a roundtrip distance of 100 kilometres, and that DCFC (DC Fast charging station) will prove the most popular – unless or until wireless charging technology becomes widely available. Electric vehicles are in grid position, and research advisory Energeia believes that with the right combination of infrastructure, model availability and policy incentives that reduce payback, electric vehicle sales could surge in 2021
and reach half of all new vehicle sales by 2030. Their modelling shows that by 2027, EVs will reach price parity with traditional combustion engines and then rapidly increase as a percentage of new vehicle sales. Under a ‘moderate intervention’ scenario, EVs would reach 100 per cent of sales in 2040 and more than half of all vehicles on the road would be EVs by that time, Energeia found in its report for ARENA and the CEFC. Looking further ahead, electric vehicles could represent 90 per cent of all cars and light commercial vehicles on Australian roads by 2050. CEFC chief executive Ian Learmonth commented that the research shows that we can increase the uptake of EVs in a way that benefits drivers as well as the environment. It’s about lowering prices, supporting more models and creating a charging network, he says. “The reality is that the transition to EVs is inevitable. We’re already seeing vehicle makers confirm they will stop producing pure internal combustion engines over the coming years. At the same time, we’re seeing dramatic improvements in vehicle charging networks, creating the essential infrastructure to support electric vehicles. “These measures can deliver a material improvement on our greenhouse gas emissions, as well as take our vehicle fleet into the 21st century,” Learmonth said. “Right across the clean energy economy, we are seeing dramatic falls in prices as the use of new technologies becomes more widespread and as the private sector responds to new investment opportunities. We can expect to see the same trends in the EV market, with increased sales driving down vehicle purchase costs and private
The transition to electric vehicles is a critical decarbonisation pathway for Australia, and an important step in meeting Australia’s emissions reduction target
32 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Taxing matter A report by the Parliamentary Budget Office on the trends of taxation revealed the tax base was decreasing while spending on areas such as pensions and healthcare were growing. Taxes are collected from labour, capital and consumption and since the introduction of the GST in 2001 all three categories have fallen. The biggest fall is from consumption, with fuel excise comprising five per cent of all commonwealth tax revenue, but fuel excise (collection) is down 0.6% of GDP. So what happens when electric vehicle uptake increases and drivers use less or no fuel?
investors financing new charging infrastructure to service this new market opportunity.”
Raising the bar Upfront costs will be a deciding factor for consumers, and a range of revised policies could reduce initial costs, among them lower stamp duty, exemption from registration fees, and lower fringe benefits tax or luxury car tax. The tipping point for mass-market appeal rests on a two-year payback and with the ‘right’ policies and incentives in place that is now seen as within reach.
“ We can increase the uptake of EVs in a way that benefits drivers as well as the environment. It’s about lowering prices, supporting more models and creating a charging network.”
EV numbers and forecasts There are currently five EV models available in Australia By the end of 2018 there could be seven models on the market By 2020: 20 models Just 0.1 per cent of new car sales in Australia are EVs Norway = 29 per cent Netherlands = 6.4 per cent California = 3 per cent US = 0.9 per cent UK = 1.4 per cent The highest impact policy incentives identified by Energeia include upfront financial incentives, government fleet purchases, and changes to the regulation of vehicle emissions, fuel efficiency and vehicle import regulations. Australia’s ability to drag the chain on emissions is not confined to the energy sector, more than 80 per cent of the world vehicle market has introduced light vehicle CO2 emissions standards. Yet to follow suit is Australia whose fleet produces nearly 100 million tonnes of emissions each year or 19 per cent of national greenhouse gas emissions, with cars and light commercial vehicles together representing more than half of those emissions.
Speeding up the process Among the conclusions reached in Climate Works’ 2018 updated report produced in collaboration with the Electric Vehicle Council is that despite the slight growth of Australia’s EV industry last year, the country is lagging behind the rest of the world. The view is shared by CEFC chief executive Ian Learmonth who said “Australians have traditionally been early adopters of new technology, but we’re lagging when it comes to EVs.” Under his administration the CEFC is encouraging the EV transition by providing finance to businesses looking to upgrade their vehicle fleets and has to date financed around 300 EV sales. The CEFC is also supporting the EV battery supply chain through an investment in a lithium mine in Western Australia.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) says ‘the development of electric vehicle markets is fundamentally tied to prospective consumers’ general awareness and understanding of the potential benefits of electric vehicles’.
34 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
Newsmakers Former Australian Greens leader Christine
with clear and decisive statements and actions, defending
Milne was awarded an officer of the Order of
renewable energy and battery storage in the face of
Australia (AO) this year for distinguished service
opposition from the Federal Government and the vested
to the Australian and Tasmanian Parliaments and
interests of the fossil fuel corporations. Chief executive
through domestic and global contributions to
John Grimes calls it as it is and does not equivocate.” Described as a “fiery environmental warrior”, she
the protection and preservation of the natural
states “electricity market rules need to do more than
G R E AT H O N O U R S
environment.
focus solely on energy security and price. They must link
She played a pivotal role in the introduction of carbon trading as a part of a renewable energy
energy security and price to addressing global warming
deal before retiring from politics in 2015, and
… energy is not just about jobs, new technology, air
continues her environmental work as Global
quality and cheaper power bills, it is the key determinant
Greens Ambassador, Ambassador for the 100 per
of whether humanity survives in an age of rapidly
cent Renewable Energy Campaign for the World
accelerating global warming. No fossil fuel advocacy
Future Council, and as a board member for Climate
[must be allowed to] undermine or slow the transition to
Accountability Institute in the US.
100 per cent renewable energy and the jobs, health and community benefits that follow.”
Christine is also a proud Patron of the Smart Energy Council, and told Solar & Storage “I am
Last year Christine Milne published her autobiography An Activist Life.
always so pleased to see the Smart Energy Council, Professor of Physics at Charles Darwin University Jai Singh was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to education, particularly in the field of physics, as an academic and researcher, and to professional scientific organisations. Professor Singh has played a pivotal role chairing Smart Energy Council NT Chapter meetings since 1998 and helped organise three biennial international conferences “that really put Darwin on the international map; people started coming here from all over the world to present their research work,” he told Solar & Storage.
“I was surprised and very honoured by my AM nomination. I’m a physics professor, I get paid to do my research and work at the university.” Jai’s research interests are solar cells and material science which have helped improve the efficiency and capability of solar cell technology. He has also mentored several PhD students and researchers exploring alternatives in the growth area of solar research and use. Jai’s rise to prominence is a remarkable story. His hometown village in India lacked a high school and in all probability Jai could have followed a life as a farm labourer. Instead he topped all his exams, scooped up scholarships and went on to gain a doctorate in Theoretical Physics.
V i r g i n m a n ’s V i s i o n Richard Branson who needs no introduction has voiced strong opinions about solar PV technology becoming a mainstream energy source and welcomes the push for renewables given “they don’t increase our carbon footprint or exacerbate global warming, like burning fossil fuels”. “Solar really does represent a huge opportunity,” he recently commented. “The potential for more renewable energy demand across the
world is massive, and it can be a great chance for businesses to get ahead of the curve … it has huge potential for job creation and investors are on the lookout for great opportunities – of which there are many. “ Over the years Virgin-backed BMR Energy has supported several renewables projects including a wind farm in Jamaica, 5 MW solar park in Guatemala, and solar power in East Africa and further afield.
Necker Island in the Caribbean converted to solar power back in 2015 and was the demo island for the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Island Energy Program, which along with the Clinton Climate Initiative, is helping 13 island Caribbean countries transition to renewables.“Remarkably, the solar installation survived the brunt of Hurricane Irma which just goes to show how solar power can reduce countries’ vulnerability to major storms. Individual mini-grids are likely to continue working even if the grid is knocked out,” Branson said.
36 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
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CEFC AND ARENA
Toward a cleaner greener landscape The CEFC’s contribution toward decarbonisation of the energy sector is considerable. In the past year alone the CEFC has set new records in the number and value of investment commitments, bringing Australia a few steps closer to a fossil-free future.
IN THE 12 MONTHS to June the CEFC made new
on the exciting economic potential of clean energy.
commitments totalling $2.3 billion, with 39 direct
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions remains a substantial
investments across the clean energy sector, in renewable
business and investment challenge for Australia [and]
energy, energy efficiency, transport and waste-related
we welcome the level of private investment we have
projects. This was an increase on the previous year
catalysed alongside our own finance,” Learmonth said.
that saw 36 direct investments and $2.1 billion in
“At the same time, we recognise there is considerably
commitments.
more work to do, requiring action right across the
Renewable energy represented 53 per cent of the portfolio. Taking a closer look at the large scale sector: the CEFC in 2017-18 invested in 10 large-scale solar projects and four wind farms, in all delivering an additional 1,100 MW in clean energy Australia-wide. Among the projects is Queensland’s Kennedy Energy Park, Australia’s first fully-integrated wind, solar and battery project with 43.2 MW of wind, 15 MW (AC) of solar and 2 MW of battery storage. Over its lifetime the park is expected to deliver emissions abatement of more
economy, in renewable energy and beyond.” Across its portfolio the CEFC delivers a positive return for taxpayers.
Performance to date Total CEFC investment commitments since inception exceed $6.6 billion, which have contributed to clean energy projects with a total project value of $19 billion. The CEFC has directly invested in more than 110 individual transactions and delivered finance for more
than 3 million tonnes.
than 5,500 smaller-scale clean energy projects.
Compelling figures
scale renewable energy projects that also include a
Chief executive Ian Learmonth points out that each dollar of CEFC investment commitments has been matched by more than $1.80 of private sector finance.
Investment commitments have included four largestorage component, and a further 24 smaller-scale storage projects through co-finance partnerships. All up the CEFC has financed more than 20 large-scale
Equally important, he says, is that the portfolio of
solar projects and more than 10 wind farms Australia-
investment commitments is targeting annual cuts to
wide. Together these projects are targeting more than
greenhouse gas emissions of 10.8 million tonnes of
2,400 MW of additional renewable energy, sufficient to
CO2-e, and lifetime cuts to greenhouse gas emissions of
power more than 800,000 homes.
more than 190 million tonnes of CO2-e. “We see a growing impetus from asset owners, businesses and investors to cut emissions and to capitalise
The CEFC is responsible for investing $10 billion in clean energy projects on behalf of the Australian Government. www.cefc.com.au
“Cutting greenhouse gas emissions remains a substantial business and investment challenge for Australia. We welcome the level of private investment we have catalysed alongside our own finance. There is considerably more work to do, right across the economy, beyond renewable energy. Our goal is to increase the impact of our capital, supporting innovative approaches to cutting greenhouse gas emissions with private investors.” – Ian Learmonth
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INCORPORATING THE
8% = 240,000 = air source heat pumps
Domestic installations SMALL-SCALE RENEWABLES >3,000,000 = small scale systems installed since 2001* 12.9 million MWh = annual displacement of electricity 72% generated by solar panel, hydro or wind systems 28% solar water heaters and air source heat pumps
Of the 3,000,000 29% = 870,000 = solar water heaters
63% of the 3m = 1,890,000 = rooftop PV systems
* Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) introduced
FALSE SAVINGS
SMALL-SCALE SYSTEMS IN STATES
The ACCC plans to save non-solar householders just $15-$30 a year by phasing out SRES by 2021, nine years early. SRES pays c.$40 for every ton of carbon abated by the installation of small scale solar PV and solar hot water systems. And the cost to health and environment from the disincentive for clean energy systems? Incalculable.
839,461 Queensland 694,154 New South Wales 636,157 Victoria 436,611 Western Australia Source: Clean Energy Regulator
Ivor Frischknecht’s swan song • I n the past decade, Australians have embraced rooftop solar so enthusiastically that we are now the biggest rooftop solar adopters per capita in the world.
JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS before ARENA’s Ivor
• And that is only increasing. Rooftop solar installations are running at an annualised rate of more than 1300 MW.
of the system as a whole.”
• An estimated 1 GW of rooftop solar was installed across Australia last year. For the first time, rooftop solar throughout Australia generated over 1000 GWh in a month – December last year. • The uptake of rooftop solar PV among commercial and industrial customers is also increasing apace with business volume recently outstripping residential customer capacity.
Frischknecht stepped down from his role as chief executive he wrote an editorial The Distributed Energy Revolution that astutely concluded “We need to think about the energy system holistically – and that includes finding ways for household solar, batteries and appliances to be used for the benefit The conclusion was based on Australian energy market dynamics in which 1.8 million households have solar panels on their roofs. In his words: At present, rooftop solar generation accounts for just over 3 per cent of our generation. By 2050, it is estimated up to 45 per cent of Australia’s electricity will be generated from solar PV on rooftops. According to AEMO’s forecasts, 25 to 40 per cent will be coming from rooftops by 2040. One day not too far from now, millions of Australian homes might have solar on their rooftops, a battery system, a charging station for an electric car, smart appliances and an energy management system that are all connected and collectively able to be harnessed. If we orchestrate them collectively, these smallscale assets would reduce the need for network infrastructure, and consequently cut our electricity bills.
There needs to be a massive enablement of rooftop solar, batteries and controllable loads so they deliver benefits back to the system as a whole, with participation on a voluntary basis. This will include more ways to sensibly manage demand, including better incentivising the use of demand side resources [Hence] we need to think about the energy system holistically – and that includes finding ways for household solar, batteries and appliances to be used for the benefit of the system as a whole.
The above was assembled from selected extracts; the full editorial can be seen at www.arena.gov.au Ivor Frischknecht was appointed as ARENA’s inaugural Chief Executive Officer in August 2012 and steered multi million dollars of investment in large-scale solar and renewable projects during his six years at the helm.
Solar & Storage 39
CLIMATE COUNCIL ON COAL
Polluting technology AS WE WERE EXTRACTING the main messages from the Climate Council’s recent report No Contest: Renewables and Storage Vs Coal which spells out why Australia’s coal power stations are not fit for a 21st century power system, a climate denying coalition backbencher was calling for “More baseload coal plants to guarantee reliability in the [energy] system”. This, in the twenty first century when renewable energy technology is advanced, wind and solar resources are plentiful, non-polluting and cost effective. All in direct contrast to old dirty polluting alternatives. Factor in that there is no end in sight to the drought and devastation affecting 99 per cent of NSW and vast areas of Queensland, and more coal plants and carbon emissions just don’t stack up. Revisiting the issue of reliability: there were as many as 100 breakdowns at fossil fuel power stations in the seven-month period to the end of June 2018, according to the Climate Council. Is this a system then that can be relied on? In the report End of the Line: Coal in Australia Climate Councillor Professor Andrew Stock said by 2030, 55 per cent of coal power stations in Australia will be over 40 years old [and] ageing
40 SPRING 2018
coal stations are increasingly unreliable and expensive to operate, risking blackouts and higher consumer power costs. “Recent failures show old coal cannot be depended upon to provide a reliable supply of electricity for the next two decades,” Professor
Stock says. “Extending the life of old coal power stations is extremely expensive … it would cost almost a billion dollars to extend the life of the Liddell power station for just five years.” At a time that Australia should be urgently planning for a future without an ageing coal
INCORPORATING THE
Making common sense
fleet it is astonishing that the government was considering a policy, the NEG, that would put a full stop to investment in clean renewable energy and instead deliver certainty to old polluting coal plants and the possibility of new plants which are the most expensive form of new power
Greenhouse gas pollution levels in the electricity sector have increased by 42 per cent since 1990, largely from the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal. Burning coal creates pollution that has negative health impacts and ageing power stations are increasingly dangerous to work in. At least 11 people died from the effects of the 2014 Hazelwood mine fire and coal miners in Queensland have experienced a re-emergence of black lung disease. Any investment in new coal is expensive and risky, while old coal is increasingly unreliable and risky, and all coal is polluting. Australia’s burning of fossil fuels is driving climate change. In order to avoid dangerous climate change,
95 per cent of Australia’s coal reserves must stay in the ground. Major international companies have ruled out financing or stopped working for the Adani coal project in Queensland. This includes Australian banks ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac. Coal served its purpose in the 20th century, but has no future in a modern 21st century electricity system which Australian consumers demand to be clean, affordable and reliable. There are no technical limitations to an electricity grid powered entirely by renewable energy and storage. Perhaps somebody could relay these facts to the coalition party room?
generation. The Climate Council calculates the cost of building a coal power station with carbon capture and storage is six times greater than the equivalent cost of Australia’s largest wind farm. Significant too is the cost to the environment: during 2017 Australia’s electricity sector produced 33 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution levels, and
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each year the health impact of coal plant operations cost Australian taxpayers about $2.6 billion. The cost of the impact of the drought that is caused by humaninduced climate change is in the billions of dollars. Fossil fuels can’t compete with renewables and storage when taking into account pollution, cost, reliability and health outcomes, Professor Stock says. His colleague Greg Bourne dismisses the term ‘clean coal’ as an oxymoron. “No matter how ‘efficient’ a coal-fired power station claims to be, it is always polluting. A new ‘high efficiency’ coal power station using black coal would produce about 75 per cent of the emissions of an existing power station of a similar size,” the Climate Councillor and energy expert said. “Australia needs a plan to transition away from coal. The Federal Government’s proposed National Energy Guarantee simply won’t deliver the investment in new clean, reliable renewable energy Australia needs to address the urgent threat of climate change.”
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MARKET REPORT
PV Market dynamics The year 2018 is proving to be a record year for Australian PV, says Warwick Johnston of Sunwiz.
For more detailed PV market intelligence contact warwick@sunwiz.com.au and visit www.pvsell.com.au
42 SPRING 2018
YEAR TO DATE: Every solar PV segment is doing incredibly well; indeed commercial, industrial, and solar farms have already broken records. The year 2017 was a record year, at 1.3GW of PV commissioned, but as the chart on this page shows, this impressive figure was already exceeded by mid-2018. A major reason for this is the commissioning of 700MW of solar farms by the end of July; however the sub-100kW market is also running white hot. Those who are not selling commercial PV are missing out, this segment held 35 per cent of SRES volume in July. And on the matter of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme that the ACCC has recommends be axed, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe SRES is truly under threat this side of a federal election. It would be nigh impossible for any legislation to pass parliament; and enacting regulatory changes to SRES would be political suicide.
THE MONTH OF JULY: July was another boom-time month for Australian PV, with more rooftop PV installed by July than was installed in all of 2017 which was the previous record-holder. Turning to volume and sizes, 130MW was registered during July, which will end up being the secondgreatest month on record. A new record average system size was also struck, driven both by record commercial volumes and a shift to 7kW residential systems, with a new record set for average system size at 7.4kW. NSW regained the rooftop PV lead from Queensland, and like the rest of the nation scored its top three months on record all in the three months to July 2018. Also of note is prices which dropped considerably, with the cheapest price below 50c/W. In the commercial market, a whopping 35 per cent of sub-100kW volume installed in July was in commercialsized systems (10-100kW).
AEMOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INTEGRATED SYSTEM PLAN which presents a forecast for PV in the national energy market showed a rise from the current contribution of 4 per cent to reaching at least 10 per cent by 2030, and anywhere between 12 to 24 per cent by 2040. More specifically, AEMO forecasts PV volume growth from 5GW (within the NEM) to 8-9GW by 2020, and to 17- 20GW by 2030. Essentially this looks like a 1GW/year market for a long time.
INCORPORATING THE
Movers and Shakers “Whatever can be done to help with this [energy] transition I would welcome with open arms, but even if nothing is done we will still make investments. We may make less investments, we may do it slower, but we will still do it anyway because it’s doable. Of course, if you have the right tailwind and don’t have a headwind then of course you can do more and you can go faster, and you can do grander and bigger, which is what we would like to do.” Sanjeev Gupta of GFG Alliance who wants to set up Australia’s first storage battery plant and to manufacture electric vehicles within three years
“As a public service to help journalists interviewing ministers announcing drought relief, I’ve prepared this handy cheat sheet, starting with the key question about agricultural policy.
“Climate change should be a bipartisan issue and should not be captive to short term politics and ideological point scoring. The issue is too important and as Australia’s greenhouse gas pollution levels continue to rise, it affects all of us. Our generation will be judged on how effectively we dealt with this intergenerational issue and based on the way things are going at the moment, we will be judged harshly.” Gerry Hueston, Climate Council
4. Given that we are one of the world’s biggest carbon emitters on a per capita basis, do we need to move to a zero-emissions energy policy to have credibility in encouraging global change?
“I am yet to hear scientific evidence to satisfy me that if the very, very small amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (approximately 0.38%) was increased, it could lead to significant global warming … and have never met a geologist or leading scientist who believes adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere will have any significant effect on climate change, especially not from a relatively small country like Australia.” (2011) Gina Rinehart of Hancock Prospecting who donated $4.5 million to climate sceptic thinktank Institute of Public Affairs in 2016 and 2017 “Imagine what would be if Sanjeev Gupta donated $4.5 million to IPA.” Simon Holmes à Court, Senior Advisor to the Energy Transition Hub, Melbourne University 44 SPRING 2018
1. Minister, is this drought the result of climate change? (If the answer is “no”, go to question 7.) 2. If it’s climate change then, not just regular Australian weather, is this aid a waste of money? A mere Band-Aid when there’s a bigger problem? 3. What exactly is your government’s climate change policy?
5. Would the NSW government’s billion dollars in farm aid be better spent investing in renewable energy? 6. Should the money at least be spent on increasing farmers’ drought resistance, rather than temporary assistance such as transport subsidies? 7. If this drought is not related to climate change, it’s not a natural disaster, is it? It’s just our usual climate of insufficient water every decade or so?” Extracts from a ten-point list prepared by Michael Pascoe, The New Daily “There is no carbon emissions target for the electricity system ... nothing for transport, agriculture or heavy industry. There is no bipartisan policy, and no possibility of investor certainty.” ANU Professor Frank Jotzo “It’s exciting to see California has become the first US state to require solar panels on almost all new homes. It’s a great idea and it’s wonderful to see solar technology becoming a mainstream energy source … hopefully the new plans will provide a blueprint for others … innovative solutions like these will help fight climate change.” Richard Branson INCORPORATING THE
LOCAL and GLOBAL NEWS EXPORTING HYDROGEN: Over the next decade, Australia could seize on the opportunity to export hydrogen as other countries look to transition to low carbon energy sources, said outgoing ARENA chief executive Ivor Frischknecht. “If Australia can tap into our abundant wind and solar resources to produce hydrogen using renewable energy, we could export hydrogen at large scale.” With the right conditions, it is estimated Australian hydrogen exports could contribute $1.7 billion per annum to the economy and provide 2,800 jobs by 2030.
DARREN MILLER has been appointed the new chief executive of ARENA. Mr Miller (pictured) was cofounder and chief executive of innovative electricity retailer Mojo Power from 2015 until July 2018, and was previously at Sungevity Australia where he pioneered residential solar power purchase agreements. Ivor Frischknecht who led ARENA since its inception in 2012 and oversaw 370 projects which have leveraged $2.8 billion dollars of investment stepped down in mid August. Many are hoping, however, that he continues to play a leading role in the development of renewable power.
VICTORIA’S SOLAR-FRIENDLY SCHEME: Under a $1.24 billion Solar Homes program, Victorian households will be able to install rooftop PV for half price and pay the rest of the cost back over four years with an interest-free loan. Solar panels will be installed on 650,000 homes over ten years, slash carbon emissions by almost four million tonnes and generate 12.5 per cent of Victoria’s 40 per cent target for renewable energy by 2025. The scheme extends to solar hot water with rebates of $1000 for 6000 households. The energy policy vacuum at the federal level – and fresh threats to pull out of the Paris agreement – means energy initiatives now lie in the hands of the states. Thumbs up to progressive Victoria whose large-scale renewables program that is belting ahead complements the Solar Homes program. A new independent agency, Solar Victoria, will be established to work with industry, regulators and training organisations to deliver the program, which will create almost 5,500 new jobs. 4 4
4
Good for employment – tick. Good for environment – tick. Great for households which will save up to $890 a year – big tick.
CABINET SHUFFLES WHILE AUSTRALIA SINGES: In mid-August
OCTOPUS which is the UK’s largest investor in utility scale solar has recently established a branch office in Melbourne. “Australia has fantastic solar and wind resources and the potential to be at the leading edge of renewables,” said the head of the Energy Investments team. Octopus has built 154 solar farms in the UK, and is the name behind 66 more projects in France.(Readers of this magazine are only too well aware of Australia’s potential to be a world leader in renewables. Word is yet to reach the ears of Parliamentarians.)
46 SPRING 2018
after a prolonged dry winter NSW which produces about a quarter of Australia’s agricultural output was officially listed as 100 per cent in drought. This has now been labelled the worst drought in living memory In parts of eastern Australia.
SOLAR FOR 3D: Deakin University research fellow Dr Mazher Mohammed who is at the forefront of 3D printing is pioneering ‘eco-printing‘ in the Solomon Islands using a solar-powered 3D-printer to make plumbing parts from recycled waste plastic.
INCORPORATING THE
REPORT FROM TAIWAN
Taiwan’s forward-looking program By Cathryn Blair TAIWAN MAINTAINS A LEADERSHIP POSITION in exports of ICT products, PV cells, LEDS and bicycles, thanks to its productivity levels, entrepreneurship and innovative capacity. However, this has come at a cost of a huge ecological footprint, and the ‘Made in Taiwan’ era has left its mark on the environment with contamination damaging the air, land, and water and carbon monoxide emissions from traffic and industry generating substantial air pollution.
Ongoing change Understandably, a shift in behaviour and attitude towards improving the environment and achieving a cleaner and lowercarbon future has been taking place. More recently, Taiwan’s Government has created a determined policy framework for stabilising emissions, improving air quality, supporting energy supply stability, and economic development. This includes: • legislating to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to less than 50 per cent by 2050; • new energy policy to phase out nuclear and increase the share of renewables to 20 per cent (20 GW), with 50 per cent LNG and 30 per cent coal by 2025; and • new industrial policy vision – the 5+2 Innovative Industries Initiative focussing on R&D in five major industries: Smart Machinery; Asia-Silicon Valley; Biomedical; Green Energy and National Defence, and later expanded to include Circular Economy and New Agriculture. The policies have been supported by domestic commitments to NT$1 trillion ($AU44.46 billion) (2017); for an infrastructure program for rail, water, green energy construction, digital infrastructure and urbanrural infrastructure to enhance regional balance and increase domestic investment momentum and unlock potential for growth. The Government has also introduced a Southbound Policy to enhance bilateral economic
and trade relations, investment and industry cooperation for Taiwan enterprises with South and Southeast Asian nations including Australia and New Zealand.
Green-energy industry ecosystem The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), founded in 1970, provides market support through its 1,200 staff and strong network of 50 overseas branches. In addition, the Green Project Trade Office (GPTO), established in 2009, focuses squarely on green trade by helping domestic business communities develop green products and transition to a green economy which in turn supports international market expansion. To date ongoing investment and support have resulted in an environment that supports 113 IPO companies, 8,000 start-ups, over 13,000 SMEs and over 140 incubators focusing on technology development (2017).
Taiwan: a showcase of industry development Gintech Energy Corporation Gintech was established in 2005 and commenced production of crystalline solar cells and modules in 2006 before listing in 2007. Sales revenue has risen steadily as has investment in product improvement and process innovation to further develop high-quality and high-efficiency solar robust enough to cope with demanding domestic conditions including wind, typhoons and earthquakes. Gintech is one of three partners in what is set to be the largest-ever solar energy merger in Taiwan, to be completed on 1 October 2018. Neo Solar Power Corp. will bring Gintech Energy Corp. and Solartech Energy Corp. fully under its corporate umbrella with the new company to be named United Renewable Energy (UREC). The mega-merger aims to create a company with capital of NT$21.1 billion (AU$944 million) – October 2017 figures; and is supported by funding from the Government as part of efforts to drive renewable energy growth. UREC is set to provide one-stop services from solar cell supply to backend module production, thereby improving competitiveness. The new company will also set its sights on the global market.
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Gintech management, TAITRA and media representatives
INCORPORATING THE
Voltronic Power Technology Corp. Voltronic Power is an original design manufacturer (ODM) established by Alex Hsieh in 2008, and was publicly listed in 2014. With its Taipei headquarters housing Finance, Sales, Marketing, and R&D co-located with manufacturing, plus three manufacturing facilities in Taiwan and China to manage production volumes, Voltronic has a complete line of UPSs, hybrid and off-grid inverters – including the 3rd gen off-grid PV Axpert inverter, and other solar products. With 280 experienced engineers in R&D, Voltronic Power focus on developing UPS/Inverter innovation year-on-year to provide better solutions for the market and widen the gap with competitors. One of Voltronic’s strengths is its R&D and custom product development timeline – with one to three months achievable. Voltronic’s experience in design and manufacturing, total quality assurance, commitment to customer satisfaction and innovation combined with its non-compete policy and flexibility for OEM, co-design, ODM and customisation make it a potential partner for tier 1 companies.
SunFly Solar Technology Co Ltd
SunFly management, TAITRA and media representatives with the SunFly Daylight Tubular Device
Andy Lin, Product Manager, Voltronic Power Technology Corp.
Founded in March 2011 and located in Tainan City, Sunfly Solar introduced the Daylight Tubular Device (DTD) in 2013 and an optional LED version the following year. The original concept came from PET bottle recycling. The SunFly DTD received an EPIF International Green Classics Awards in 2014. SunFly’s DTD with LED allows for natural lighting to reach into any room or large space during daytime and when there are low levels of light during the day and at night the LEDs are turned on. Available in two sizes – 520 and 750 mm, the DTD 6-piece design will suit any roof grade, it is simple to install, and maintenance costs are minimised with only access to the roof required and LEDs are simple to replace. A solution for cost-effective lighting interiors in energy efficient and eco-friendly technology in which natural light is evenly diffused across a large area. The DTD light pipe and diffuser features high levels of light transmissibility, the dome is a durable weather resistant acrylic is UV stable, meets flammability standards, and is 99 per cent recyclable. SunFly is currently seeking a distributor in Australia.
Hengs Technologies, Tainan City Hengs Technology was established in 1998 as a specialist in monitoring and system integration. In 2012 it established its natural energy department and focused on renewable-energy system integration and related products. Today Hengs has evolved into a leading distributor of leading branded solar equipment, offer customised design services, Engineering Procurement Construction, Procurement Construction Maintenance, Operation and Maintenance and investment analysis. With agents in Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, India and South Africa Hengs has completed over 500 projects for over 100MW and major development areas include Japan, South-East Asia and India. As a top three EPC with over 20 per cent market share, over 20-years’ experience and the largest solar team in Taiwan, Hengs offers a total solution with a PR > 80 per cent in the initial year and a 10-year average PR >72 per cent. Real-time monitoring, rapid diagnosis, dedicated maintenance are Hengs key differentiators.
Hengs real-time project monitoring
Our thanks to TAITRA and the GPTO for their cooperation and assistance in developing this article. If you are interested in Taiwanese companies, please contact Anthony Tung, TAITRA, Sydney, antony.tung@taitra.org.au or phone 02 9279 4800, www.sydney.taiwantrader.com.tw
Solar & Storage 49
SOLAR POWERED VEHICLES
Amazing race, triumphant win Everyone loves a winner, especially when ‘solar’ is involved. And thanks to Saamiul Bashar and his intrepid colleagues from Western Sydney University, Australia is the first international competitor to win the American Solar Challenge. That’s two firsts for Australia, and one very popular team.
THE TERRAIN from the US state of Nebraska to Oregon covering Wyoming and Idaho is hardly the most welcoming; it includes steep mountain climbs, narrow canyons and hurtling descents. It’s also hot and dusty during the US summer, which is the season in which the American Solar Challenge is staged, attracting skillful competitors from universities across the globe. Most of the teams had between 20 to 30 support staff, but not Western Sydney University with just 14, including students, alumni and volunteers who helped ensure their vehicle UNLIMITED 2.0 was ready to race each day. And race it did, from 9am to 6pm daily in the gruelling 2800km challenge that was touch and go the entire journey, as told by Solar Team Manager Saamiul Bashar: “The entire time we were just so close to the other competitors ... it was neck and neck the whole way through.” Until … Victory!
Staying ahead for four of the five stages of the Challenge, team WSU and their vehicle UNLIMITED 2.0 went on to claim victory in a nail-biting finish just 16 minutes faster than the University of Michigan, clocking up a total track time of 37 hours and 55 minutes. A couple of weeks after the July victory we spoke to Saamiul who, perhaps by way of understatement characterised the race as “A very stressful, but a rewarding experience!”
What were the main challenges encountered by UNLIMITED 2.0 along the way? The car was very much outside of its design parameters for this race. It was purpose built for the World Solar Challenge [3000km trek from Darwin to Adelaide] which is a very flat, straight race where you can just set the cruise control. This is in stark contrast to the American Solar Challenge, which is a mountainous and curvy route, and includes a
Vehicle tech specs Mass: Originally 158kg, rose to about 180kg for American Solar Challenge due to modifications to meet new regulations. Top Speed: 140km/h Dimensions: 4.5m L x 1.6m W x 1m H Chassis: Full carbon fibre monocoque (steel roll cage added to meet ASC regs) Battery: 20kg 5kWh Lithium Ion Battery Solar Panel: 4m^2 1kW Sunpower solar panels Tyres: Custom Bridgestone Ecopia solar car tyres
50 SPRING 2018
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The tireless team of engineering, industrial design and visual communications students worked up to 100 to 120 hour weeks over many months preparing for the race track race. This difficult route and new format, combined with the team adjusting to operating in America made this event particularly rewarding. Perhaps the most notable challenge was at the end of stage 4, in which we and Michigan had been pushing each other at the speed limit for most of the stage, only to encounter some bigger than expected hills right at the end of the stage.
At the end of each day’s race the team manually lifted the 160kg vehicle and placed it in the back of a u-haul moving truck. Each night the team carried out vehicle maintenance and charged the system, leaving little time for sleep
Our competition earlier in the day had left us both with an almost flat battery pack, and the climb up the hills left the cars each on their “last breath”. In the space of only 40 minutes, we swapped places six times, with each team having to pull off the road with issues along the way. I would suggest the way our team dealt so effectively with these issues as the defining moment of our race, and where we finally got in front of Michigan. The competition regulations are specifically designed to make energy management and strategy a critical part of the race for every team. The solar panel allowance is generally calibrated to keep the fastest cars running between 80-90km/h. We managed to track the weather quite well during this race, and managed to stay out of some weather systems that many other teams were unable to avoid.
Can you put into words the thrill of beating the ‘favourite’ by just 16 minutes? The energy as we crossed the finish line in first place was just indescribable; everyone was buzzing, while still trying to process the fact that we’d just won our first American Solar Challenge. Racing requires so much focus on the now that it’s often hard to keep track of the big picture. I don’t think the gravity of it started to hit us until we realised how much it meant to everyone around us. Speaking to the inspectors and alumni of the competition really added some perspective; some of these people had been waiting almost 20 years to see this trophy leave Michigan. The reception to our win has been fantastic. Media and public interest has been the highest it has ever been, and there has been a tremendous amount of support pouring across the Pacific, from the entire Western Sydney University community, our friends, family and sponsors.
How confident were you of victory (or even finishing the race)? To be quite honest, victory seemed out of reach going into this competition, and even after we’d won, it still took some time to sink in. Solar car races are very gruelling for the car and especially the team; just finishing is a huge challenge. The confidence we had was that our team had done everything they could to best prepare the car, and the rest was just a bonus!
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SOLAR POWERED VEHICLES
This was very much a cohesive team event, who and what was involved in the student-led project? We have team members who specialise in many different fields, or more accurately, we take in students who specialise themselves in particular skills required for the car. These range from aerodynamics, suspension design, composite engineering and manufacturing, photovoltaics,
power electronics, batteries, drive systems, control systems and systems engineering. They are from the fields of Engineering, ICT, Industrial Design and Visual Communications and manage every aspect of the production and design of the vehicle as well as sponsorships, marketing and the administrative elements. The team is supported by the University’s School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, and
preparations for the American Solar Challenge required more than a year of intense focus and hard work.
What’s next for you and the team? We certainly enjoyed celebrating the race with our friends from the other teams after the awards ceremony, and now we’re sorting the final intricacies of shipping the car back to Australia. Much of the team has been excited to do some sightseeing around the US, and now to get home to see family and friends again. It’s been a very long journey away from home – six to eight weeks for most.
What are your thoughts on the future of solar powered vehicles? There’s a tremendous amount of new technology being developed for these cars, and that’s where I see the promise of solar cars, as an expression of the ultimate in automotive efficiency. I expect much of this experience will be translated into ever more efficient electric vehicles, charged by solar microgeneration and On winning the American Solar Challenge the WSU team felt a mix of “disbelief and ecstasy”. Team leader Sammiul Bashar said it means a lot for the reputation of Australia and Western Sydney University to be home to the first international team to win the challenge
at home battery storage. Effectively a solar car as a system, without the expense of integrating these systems together on a single vehicle.
“The future of solar is in collaboration” NRG Solar Director Eddy May proudly supports Solar Cutters
“If you are looking to collaborate with a South Australian Solar Company choose NRG Solar.” #solarcutters #quality Jack Long & Kosta Bourandanis, Founders of Solar Cutters
✓Sharing knowledge ✓Improving standards ✓Collaborating with industry 52 SPRING 2018
Visit nrgsolar.com.au or call 1300 858 160
INCORPORATING THE
SOLAR
SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
products + services
Growatt: eight years and still growing Chinese solar inverter manufacturer Growatt New Energy Technology specialises in string and central inverters with power ranging from 1 kW to 1.26 MW, and storage solutions with smart monitoring systems for residential and commercial rooftop PV and ground plants. The company recently celebrated eight years of global operations and more than one million installations.
IN THE EIGHT YEARS since Growatt was established in 2010, the company has sold more than 190,000 inverters in Australia through its local distribution network. TheCPD branchPROMO office in Sydney which coordinates supplies to distributors across Australia is part of a big machinery: Growatt’s head office is located in Shenzhen and the company that was established back in 2010 now has a workforce numbering more than 1200. Among those is Growatt’s Research and Development team that boasts more than 150 engineers, the majority of whom have more than 15 years experience in the inverter industry and have steered technological advances and patents.
Gigawatt Growatt Production plants in China clock up annual production capacity at around 3.6 GW and products are exported to 100 countries including the US, South America, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and New Zealand. The range of products is sold through local distribution networks. Here in Australia Growatt’s localised after-sales service team includes four experienced full-time technicians who respond to client queries and provide routine training and maintenance and fulfil the range of after-sales
new product installation training and regular maintenance for Australia inverter distributors and wholesalers. Where necessary after sales services include a replacement inverter, and in the event clients are unable to install it, Growatt dispatches an authorised electrician to carry out the work. Abundant replacement inverters are stocked in the Silverwater warehouse to ensure replacement in 48 hours. However according to Growatt the failure rate of their inverters is low, as reflected in the more than 80,000 functional Growatt inverters out-ofwarranty.
Pioneering online services Complementing the Sydney-based service centre is Growatt’s Online Service System (OSS) that enables distributors and installers to monitor and remotely control all installed Growatt inverters. During instances of faulty inverters the OSS will automatically generate a warning or troubleshooting advice. Upgrading to firmware can also be conducted online, with up to 60 per cent of inverter problems solved via this online platform that reduces maintenance costs for installers and distributors. David Wei, Managing Director of Austra Energy, one of Growatt’s distributors in Australia said “Today, with Growatt’s OSS system, we can remotely diagnose and locate faulty inverters, some of the faults can be corrected by computer. This has helped us to lower our operating expenditure and saved an enormous amount of maintenance cost and labour.” In instances where problems cannot be fixed remotely, distributors and installers can gain assistance from a group of online service engineers located at Growatt’s Shenzhen headquarters. www.ginverter.com Aftersales service hotline: 02 8065 1298 or 0423 487 311.
In mid July the Growatt Australia Service team celebrated their eight-year anniversary at branch offices in Silverwater, Sydney. Opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Australian Solar Council Opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Smart Energy Council Solar Solar&&Storage Storage 53 49
SOLAR
SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
products + services
Array Technologies: fast-tracking success
ACCORDING TO US-BASED tracker specialist Array Technologies around 35 GW of utility scale solar PV projects are currently in various stages of development here in Australia. On the back of this, the growth in the demand for solar trackers is unparalleled: 83 per cent of utility-scale projects underway are deploying solar tracking technology.
It’s good news for the company that entered the Australian market just 18 months ago, and has since been awarded 15 projects exceeding 1 GW of installed capacity, and has in the process gained a 55 per cent slice of the market down under. Among the projects Array is currently supplying are five in New South Wales, one in Western Australia and
CPD PROMO
Launching Floatpac FOLLOWING FOUR YEARS’ RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, Australia’s first designed and made flotation system to allow solar farms to be positioned over water is ready for business. Floatpac company founder and chief executive Gavin Hodgins has switched focus from R&D to marketer, promoting the virtues of floating solar that when mounted on the surface of large bodies of water not only maximises otherwise ‘dead’ space but also reduces evaporation and suppresses algae. He’s encountering a wave of interest. “The first install of our Australian made solution will be in November. Roll out will continue from there and we have 3 MW of projects in the pipeline currently,” said Gavin who is in talks with companies in regional Victoria and water corporations Australia wide. “Annual capacity is sitting at 9 MW and we have plans to expand this over the next three years as we continue to grow.” He also has an eye on the overseas market, saying “It’s a fallacy that exporting molded parts is unfeasible due to the bulk caused by
air content. In the short term we believe there is export potential, however our vision is to set up molding manufacturing plants overseas at some stage.“ Manufactured at the plant in Melbourne’s south east, the flotation pods are UV stabilised, rot and mold resistant and fully recyclable, and all parts have undergone strenuous and complete testing, as with any ground-mount systems. The offering to industry comes in the form of the Australian-made flotation supply, or as a flotation and installation supply using client sourced panels and inverters. It can also take the form of a complete supply, including panels and inverters.
“The latter would be our preferred business offering and we would aim to use as much Australian made product as possible,” Gavin explained. Floatpac is a proud participant in the ‘Australia Made’ campaign, and in the spirit of supporting local industries is in discussions with Adelaide based solar panel maker Tindo and a string of local inverter makers and Australian based battery companies. “The aim is to provide the entire [floating solar plant] solution incorporating Tindo panels and Australian cabling, and down the track we could well be adding batteries for storage in response to market demand.” www.floatpac.com
Opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Australian Solar Council
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two in Victoria, including the state’s first large-scale solar farm the 60 MW Gannawarra plan. Notably however are those located in tropical cyclone prone north Queensland: the 148 MW Ross River plant near Townsville; 69 MW solar farm at Whitsunday near Collinsville, 69 MW solar farm at Hamilton, 60 MW plant at Hayman and the 180 MW Daydream plant. Array claims the systems can withstand sustained high winds and extreme wind gusts – including those exceeding 200 km/h in the event of a tropical cyclone – by deploying the DuraTrack HZ v3 that has attained AS 11.70 certification for Wind Region C operation. Array also proudly promotes the fact DuraTrack comes with 150 times fewer components, resulting in lower operations and maintenance costs. Supplying technology that suits the range of climatic conditions spanning the continent, and with an eye on the fast trajectory of the market, Array Technologies has flagged the importance of the Australian market within its global business
strategy and is poised to grow its market share. “Australia is an exciting market for us here at Array,” said Jeff Krantz, vice president at Array Technologies. “The Australian utility-scale solar market is booming … and the pace at which the country is embracing solar demonstrates how cost-competitive utility scale solar in Australia is today. “It is crucial for solar investors to be knowledgeable about the risks and financial impacts of the different tracker technologies on the market.” Array has established newly expanded offices in Australia, along with on-theground engineering, logistics support, and is eyeballing a “substantial pipeline” for 2019. Array Technologies is headquartered in the United States with offices in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Australia. For more information, visit www.arraytechinc.com www.arraytechinc.com/australia-trackerreport
Solar 4 RVs: winning ways SOLAR 4 RVs has been recognised as an ABA100 Winner in The Australian Business
Winning the 2018 Australian Business Award for Eco Innovation tops an impressive list of national awards won over the years including two wins at the Optus My Business Awards (2017 Australian Retail Business of the Year and 2015 Sustainability Initiative of the Year).
Smart Energy Council member Solar 4 RVs will now join other national ABA100 winners and be benchmarked globally for the 2018 World Business Awards. www.solar4rvs.com.au
Awards 2018 for Eco Innovation. The award recognises the company’s achievements in the research and development of a co-ordinated service model for off-grid mobile solar. Trish Chapallaz, co-founder/owner of Solar 4 RVs was thrilled the company was recognised for its sector leadership in the provision of lightweight, thin solar panels for off-grid mobile applications such as caravans, boats, and outdoor equipment. Since launching the family business in March 2014 Solar 4 RVs has grown to supply and support hundreds of businesses and government departments across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific from their showroom, workshop, offices and warehouse in South East of Melbourne. They stock the largest range of flexible solar panels in Australia and have an intensive research and testing program.
Solar & Storage 55
SOLAR
SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
products + services
Deep expertise, Deep Cycle Systems NESTLED ON MT TAMBOURINE inland from the coast in South East Queensland is Deep Cycle Systems that has been supplying Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries for six years to the recreational, marine, residential and commercial markets in Australia and overseas. Marek Tomolowicz who has a PhD in mechanical engineering and his son Paul, with extensive experience in electronics product development and testing, are the brains behind the development of the deep cycle batteries that are made using a proprietary range of DCS 3.2V cylindrical cells. The DCS 12V recreational vehicle and marine batteries come with a 3-year warranty, and servicing the residential/commercial market is the range of modular 48V solar PV series storage batteries at 10 kWh and 13.5 kWh that are modular and expandable at up to 135 kWh per string/phase. One happy marine customer is a Noosabased catamaran owner who replaced his 240 kg battery bank taking up a square meter of space with a DCS system weighing just 42 kilograms and commanding 0.45 sqm of space. A residential customer connected a DCS battery to his 1 kW wind turbine that is averaging 3-5 kWh of power daily, and is part of a growing trend with the significant rise in the uptake of off-grid systems using DCS batteries, Paul said. At the heart of each
DCS off-grid system is the Selectronics SP Pro. “And the only product we consider to be of CPD PROMO the same standard and therefore the one we recommend with our off grid systems is the Selectronics SP Pro Battery Inverters,” Paul explained. DCS also partners with European inverter manufacturer Fronius. Although DCS is now well established, it’s been a tough path getting to today, and Paul gave insight into the early hurdles saying “Can you imagine working 16 hour days for about 24 months during an R&D program and dealing with about a dozen suppliers in four different countries that can’t speak fluent English, trying to explain all the technical specifications. But before we put any products into the market space we had tested and evaluated so much equipment and the knowledge of that is priceless, you simply just can’t put a price tag on it”. Today the overseas assembly process comes with quality control over all components, with each battery put through a rigorous testing regime prior to packing and dispatch. We also know where every single battery is being installed and we have direct login to each battery system so that ongoing site data is also something very powerful to us,” Paul said. “But we are not here to break records and stock markets, our business model will always be low volume and high quality.” www.deepcyclesystems.com.au
“There’s no question that the Great Barrier Reef is in a parlous state, but it’s really peculiar that anyone would be talking about rescuing it and still unable to say the two words, climate change ... The greatest threat to the Great Barrier Reef is global warming. It’s simple, it’s global warming caused by carbon pollution as a direct result of fossil fuel.” Tim Winton
A message from WorkCover WA DESPITE IMPROVED SAFETY PRACTICES and heightened awareness, workplace injuries do occur. It is for this reason that workers’ compensation insurance is a legal requirement. As a business owner you are responsible for protecting yourself, your organisation and your workers by having a current workers’ compensation policy in place. This includes coverage for casual workers and family members, and in some circumstances contractors and sub-contractors. If a worker makes a claim for workers’ compensation when you do not have insurance, you will be held personally liable for the claim which can equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars and be financially devastating for your business. Avoiding such costs is as easy is contacting your insurer or broker to ensure a current insurance policy is in place. It’s also important to remember that workers’ compensation insurance does not automatically renew each year, and you need to contact your insurer or broker to obtain a new policy before your current one expires. If you hold a ‘Business Package’ insurance policy, be aware these packages do not always include workers’ compensation.” If you need assistance, contact WorkCover WA on 1300 794 744 or visit www.workcover.wa.gov.au and view educational video ‘Workers’ compensation insurance: a guide for employers.’
Opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Australian Solar Council
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3 – 4 October 2018 | Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
AUSTRALIA’S MOST COMPREHENSIVE
CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY EVENT
6,700+
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ATTENDEES AT LAST EVENT*
INDUSTRY SPEAKERS
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FREE-TO-ATTEND EXPO & CONFERENCE
EXHIBITORS
*6,772 attendees at All-Energy Australia 2017. CAB Audited by AMAA.
Organised by
Register now at: all-energy.com.au Supporters
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
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SOLAR products + services
SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL SOLAR & STORAGE MAGAZINE ADVERTISERS’ SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL
Vermeer’s advanced technology
VERMEER AUSTRALIA AND POSITION PARTNERS have joined forces to streamline pile driving applications in the solar industry through semiautonomous technology. Using a combination of Carlson machine guidance, the Vermeer PD10 pile driver machine and technical support promises increased productivity for the Australian solar industry. CPD PROMO Carlson machine guidance includes a variety of sensors fitted to the machine, along with a precision GPS unit and a control box that gives operators real-time information about location, depth and angle of each pile. With all the information required on screen, the solution eliminates the need to manually stake out the piles altogether. By eliminating the need for manual stakeout and stringlines, the new semi-autonomous solution is said to speed up the process and guarantee greater accuracy and improved safety. For more information about the semi-autonomous pile driving solution contact Position Partners on 1300 867 266 or visit www.positionpartners.com.au
Selectronic inverter added to range SELECTRONIC HAS ADDED the ABB UNO-DM-PLUS (ABB UNO) single phase range of grid inverters to its Selectronic certified offerings. Incorporating Selectronic’s Smart Link and available in 3.3kW, 4kW, 5kW and 6kW sizes, the Selectronic Certified ABB UNO will replace the outgoing Selectronic Certified ABB PVI inverters. The Smart Link communication between the ABB and Selectronic SP PRO battery inverter will allow fast control of the PV output from the ABB UNO in AC Coupled systems. Thanks to highly responsive control loops, the PV control is the fastest Selectronic has achieved with Selectronic Certified inverters to date; designed for smooth, well controlled battery charging for maximum battery life and smooth export control. Up to five ABB UNO inverters can be controlled by a single SP PRO, allowing up to 15 ABB UNO units on a 3-phase system. ABB UNO is ideal for Off-Grid systems, On-Grid
with battery storage, or export control with an SP PRO. The new ABB UNO is compatible with Selectronic Certified ABB PVI inverters already installed in a managed AC Coupled Battery system. The maximum amount of ABB output per SP PRO is shown in the table below. SP PRO Series II MODEL
Maximum combined AC Output of ABB inverters per SP PRO AC OUTPUT
ON-GRID
OFF-GRID
SPMC240
3kW
15kW
6kW
SPMC241
4.5kW
15kW
9kW
SPMC481
5kW
15kW
10kW
SPMC482
7.5kW
15kW
15kW
SPMC1201
7.5kW
15kW
15kW
SPLC1200
15kW
30kW
30kW
SPLC1202
20kW
40kW*
40kW
*If you wish to export more than 30kW, an external contactor will be required Units are available for immediate despatch from Selectronic approved distributors across Australia and New Zealand. For further information, contact enquiries@selectronic.com.au or visit www.selectronic.com.au for additional product specifications and resource materials.
Opinions expressed on this page are not necessarily those of the Australian Solar Council
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“Member promotion, networking and engagement remain core to our functions.” John Grimes, Chief Executive
Smart Energy Council The National Voice of Solar, Storage and Smart Energy THE SMART ENERGY COUNCIL is the peak industry body for the solar industry in Australia. We represent companies in solar hot water, large-scale solar thermal concentrating plants, solar PV (at all scales), solar passive design and energy-efficient materials. We also represent solar customers and consumers and provide advice to the federal and state governments the public, and commentary to the media. As a not for profit organisation we trace our history back to 1954 in Australia. The Smart Energy Council is committed to high-quality long-term solar and storage solutions. All profits are ploughed back into the industry for and on behalf of the industry.
Join the Smart Energy Council for brand placement and marketing, keeping up with competitors, alignment and credibility, market intelligence and networking, and professional and career development. Want to know more or to sign up? Contact Luke Shavak, Membership Sales luke@smartenergy.org.au, 0499 345 013 or for marketing enquiries contact Brett Thompson, brett@smartenergy.org.au, 0402 181 250 www.smartenergy.org.au
Our programs and services are extensive, they include: • Delivering Australia’s largest dedicated smart energy, solar and storage conference and exhibition
• News and updates delivered by a quarterly Solar & Storage magazine
• Advocacy, lobbying and driving industry campaigns
• Helping deliver state and national smart energy policy
• Professional development and webinars
• Continuing to improve quality and safety of solar and battery storage
• Industry training through the Smart Energy Training Centre • Networking events, roadshows and summits • Leveraging market intelligence and consolidating data
and fortnightly e-newsletter
systems • The Positive Quality program, Master Installers program, Installer directory, Battery finder, and Product directory
The Smart Energy Council is committed to clean, efficient and affordable smart energy solutions Solar & Storage 59
SMART ENERGY COUNCIL TEAM
Meet Luke Shavak, Membership Sales Manager Luke Shavak who was appointed Membership Sales Manager in mid June brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. Here he tells us about himself, his views of the industry, and his expectations.
“ Storage is
improving, EVs are here, solar has never been cheaper and the benefits are too large to be ignored… I’m also excited about Blockchain technology, we are at the forefront of a revolution.
Q: What attracted you to the role of membership sales manager? Having spent four years with regional and national solar companies selling residential and commercial solar systems I knew straightaway this would be the perfect role for me! I was already familiar with many solar and storage companies and had built up many industry contacts. I had also followed the ups and downs of the solar sector in recent years and have a good grasp of industry dynamics. On a deeper level, I want a cleaner and healthier future for my kids and grandkids! I have a big passion in renewable energy for this reason. Coal power stations make absolutely no sense to me when Australia has so much by way of opportunity – renewable resources, the space and technology – to be a world leader in renewables.
Q: You have been in the job for a few months … your first impressions? It’s great to be working with leading companies in solar, wind and the other amazing types of ‘smart’ energy out there, and it’s awesome to be involved in the campaigning carried out by our chief executive John Grimes and being part of something that I really feel is making a positive difference to business and the environment. I also believe members of the Smart Energy Council appreciate and value what we’re doing.
Q: What messages are you spreading? Simply that there are lots of benefits to joining the Smart Energy Council. There’s obviously the awesome exposure and positioning it gives brands – and a bit of an edge over competitors. Then there’s the networking opportunities which are critical for building on what members have, and our events would have to be the best in the industry.
Q: I’ve heard you have authored a publication with an environmental warning, what can you tell us about this? My book Mummy Why Is There Petrol In Our Shampoo? discusses the amount of toxic ingredients in everyday cosmetic products (shampoo, makeup, perfume) that people think are
60 SPRING 2018
safe. Many of these chemicals are very dangerous and anyone with an understanding in chemistry is aware how bad these are, for example sodium laureth sulfate has been known to cause cancer yet it is found in shampoo, dishwashing liquid and more. I recommend eating organic foods, using organic products and filtering drinking water!
Q: And finally, what do you think the future holds for renewables in Australia? Looking ahead the most positive thing is that we can’t be stopped. Storage is improving, EVs are here, solar has never been cheaper and the benefits are too large to be ignored. I’m also excited about Blockchain technology; it is like the next internet – and we are at the forefront of a revolution that the general population isn’t aware of yet. Blockchain will bring an incredible amount of benefits to the industry, along with the rest of the world. Power Ledger recently joined as a member with us – keep your eye on these guys! So while it’s been a tough few years for us all, and policy makers have slowed us down in different ways, I believe common sense and logic will always prevail. I just hope that common sense will reign sooner rather than later! Did you know? Luke is a black belt in karate. He has also scaled the heights of Mt Everest (“I don’t recommend it, it was horrible,” says Luke who almost made it to the peak). And as the father of two young girls who he loves dearly, Luke is one proud dad. Got a question about Smart Energy Council membership and services? Contact Luke on 0499 345 013 or email luke@smartenergy.org.au
INCORPORATING THE
Solar, Storage and Smart Energy Events The 10th Chinese Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition
The Big 5 Solar
1-3 November, Wuxi, China www.crecexpo.com
26-29 November, Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.thebig5solar.ae
3rd Annual ASEAN Solar + Energy Storage Congress & Expo 2018
Solar-Tec 2018
14-15 November, Manila, Philippines www.aseanenergystorage.com
3-5 December, Cairo, Egypt www.solartecegypt.com
Solar & Off-Grid Renewables Southeast Asia 2018
Intersolar India 2018
26-27 November Bangkok, Thailand www.seasia.solarenergyevents.com
11-13 December, Bangalore, India www.intersolar.in
Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition 2019 2-3 April 2019, Sydney, Australia www.smartenergyexpo.org.au
Solar Expo - A World Future Energy Summit Event 14-15 January 2019, Abu Dhabi, UAE www.solarexpo.ae
6th International Conference & Exhibition on Energy Storage & Microgrids in India 22-23 January 2019, New Delhi, India www.esiexpo.in
12th International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo 27 February â&#x20AC;&#x201C; March 1 2019, Tokyo, Japan www.pvexpo.jp/en/
Book early to secure the best spaces and sponsorship packages. Contact Brett Thompson 0402 181 250 or brett@smartenergy.org.au
Middle East Electricity 2019 5-7 March 2019, Dubai, UAE www.middleeastelectricity.com
Want to reach thousands involved in solar and storage?
GIVE BRETT A CALL DID YOU KNOW? Solar & Storage magazine is read by more than 20,000 industry professionals. Our readers include: PV solar designers and installers, large-scale solar project contractors, manufacturers & wholesalers, energy retailers, government representatives of all levels, trainers, consultants and industry thought leaders. If you would like to boost your presence among the smart energy community across Australia, contact Brett Thompson. Brett can also help you to highlight your brand at the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading show, the Smart Energy Conference and Exhibition, which takes place in Sydney on April 2 and 3, 2019. Due to unprecedented demand at residential, commercial and industrial-scale levels, the smart energy industry is advancing at a rapid rate. Brett is here to help more companies right across the supply and manufacturing chain to capitalise on more opportunities. INCORPORATING THE
62 SPRING 2018
Contact Brett on 0402 181 250 or brett@smartenergy.org.au
INCORPORATING THE
Smart Energy Council Corporate Members For full listing of Smart Energy Council Members see www.smartenergy.org.au
PLATINUM MEMBERS
GOLD MEMBERS
SILVER MEMBERS
BRONZE MEMBERS AC Solar Warehouse Acstone Energy Group Amplitude Consultants Apogee Energy Auspac Energy Technologies Austra Energy Australian All Energy Solutions Aztech International B&R Enclosures Betta Batteries BSA Circular Solutions CleanPeak Energy Clean Technology Partners
Clenergy Compliance Quarter Crystal Solar Energy CSA Services DPA Solar Dynamic Solar Edson Global Emerging Energy Solutions Energy Smart Water. Enervision Australia FlexiGroup Freshwater Group Fronius Australia global-roam
Governance Insight Greenbox Energy Greenlink Solar Grid Edge Helios Renewable Energy Holding Redlich Hybrid Aus I Want Energy Island Solar JSYCAPITAL K&L Gates Keemin Kokam Co Log-On Electrical (MyPowerMP)
Metrowest Power Systems MO Energy Natural Solar Navitus Solar Nexen Energy Solutions Onsite Energy Solutions Optic Energi Australia Origin Energy Orion Platinum Solar & Electrical Powerplus Solutions Q-Cells Australia QGE Rainbow Power Company
REC Solar Reposit Power Revolusun power Smart Renewables Snapfrozen Solar Calculator Solar Hybrid Conversions Solar Red SolarEdge Technologies SolarQuotes.com.au Springers Solar Standard Solar Suntrix SuperGreen Solutions
SWS Australia Todae Solar Unlimited Energy Australia Velocity Electrical Velocity Energy Victron Energy B.V. VRB Energy Wattwatchers Westgen WINAICO Australia Yingli Green Energy Australia ZAPD Energy Zeromow
Solar & Storage 63
Solar industry Positive Quality™ and performance THE SMART ENERGY COUNCIL’S Positive Quality™ program sets rigorous standards that ensure manufacturers who achieve and maintain high standards are singled out and recognised. Two prominent panel makers: Jinko Solar and Risen Solar Technology meet those high standards and proudly display the Positive Quality™ logo, a symbol of manufacturing excellence, which sends a signal of confidence to consumers. Participating manufacturers are fully recognised, consumers enjoy peace of mind and the industry’s reputation is strengthened, delivering Positive Quality™ for all. Australian consumers and businesses can have confidence in the quality of the solar panels they are installing by looking out for the Positive Quality™ Trustmark. The Smart Energy Council developed the program because the generic appearance of panels makes it difficult to determine good from bad, unless an identification mark denotes otherwise. A logo that signifies superior quality. The Positive Quality™ program admits and endorses manufacturers that are independently tested and verified through plant visits. The initial assessment consists of a company’s entire manufacturing processes undergoing independent and intensive inspection and testing. This is carried out by the Smart Energy Council’s specially appointed Positive Quality™ specialists in a three step process: Certification check
By displaying the Positive Quality™ logo solar companies convey high standards in panel manufacturing to industry and consumers
and compliance with IEC and Australian standards; Factory inspection with a 60-point check; and a Product quality check: appearance, IV, EL, Hi-Pot, and leakage current. Positive Quality™ participants’ premises are then inspected at random every 12 weeks to ensure the continuity of those high standards. All solar PV manufacturers of high quality can participate.
Contact Positive Quality™ Manager Brett Thompson on 0402 181 250, email brett@smartenergy.org.au or visit www.smartenergy.org.au
SPRING ADVERTISING CONTENT ADVERTISER All-Energy
PAGE 57
WEB ADDRESS www.all-energy.com.au
Baywa r.e
37
www.solar-distribution.baywa-re.com.au
Deep Cycle Systems
33
www.deepcyclesystems.com.au
Ecoult
13
www.ecoult.com
Enphase Energy
41
www.enphase.com/au
Fronius
Outside Back Cover
Goodwe
27
Growatt
Inside Back Cover
Huawei
19
www.fronius.com www.goodwe.com www.ginverter.com http://solar.huawei.com/au/
Imeon Energy
25
www.imeon-energy.com.au
LG Chem
23
www.lgesspartner.com
LG Corp Longi Solar
2&3 Inside Front Cover
www.lgesspartner.com http://en.longi-solar.com
NRG Australia
52
www.nrgsolar.com.au
Powerark Solar
35
www.powerarksolar.com.au
Prosun
47
www.prosunsolar.com.au
REC
29
www.recgroup.com/N-Peak
Redback Technologies
11
redbacktech.com
Solar Juice
15
www.solarjuice.com.au
Solarwatt
31
www.solarwatt.com.au
SolaX Power
5
www.solaxpower.com
Sonnen
45
www.sonnen.com.au
TrinaBESS
7
www.trinaenergystorage.com
Windlab
43
www.windlab.com
64 SPRING 2018
INCORPORATING THE
/ Perfect Welding / Solar Energy / Perfect Charging
FRONIUS PRIMO SC.
MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY WITH THE MOST AMOUNT OF POWER. Fronius Primo SC: 5.0 kW
/ Developed for the Australian market, the Fronius Primo SC gives you the best of both worlds: maximum STC realisation thanks to a full 5,000W AC output, and maximised design flexibility thanks to two x 18A MPPTs. Buy one Fronius Primo SC from a Fronius Authorised Sales Partner from October 1 - December 31, 2018 and receive a free Fronius Smart Meter 63A-1. Visit www.fronius.com to find out more.