Public Policy Papers

Policy Paper #4/2017: Future Energy Policy

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Robert Pritchard, Energy Policy Institute of Australia

Key Points

Australia is presently on track to meet its emissions reduction commitments but it has destabilised its power system and created an insidious problem of power unreliability and unaffordability. This is threatening its energy-dependent industries and its national prosperity.
There has been a tendency by governments to intervene in energy markets. However, competitive markets must continue to play the central role in energy policy.
There has been too much short-term policy thinking. To counter this, a strategic energy plan, albeit focussed on the electricity sector, is to be developed by a new Energy Security Board (ESB).
All technologies need to be on the table for consideration by the ESB.
Solutions should be commensurate with the scale of the task and the time required for their installation, as well as on the combination of technologies that will deliver whole-of-system optimisation at the least cost.
Solutions should also be matched to Australia’s energy resource endowments - in order to provide a firmer foundation for the nation’s future prosperity.
Beyond the ESB’s strategic plan for the electricity sector, there remains a need for a bolder, more innovative, more collaborative and community-focussed energy policy. This will light the way for future investment across the entire energy sector – and will provide a common point of reference for community education.
Consideration still needs to be given to a national energy commission to replace the present suboptimal governance structure.

Click here to download the full paper

Policy Paper #3/2017: What are the full system costs of renewable energy?

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Stephen Wilson, Cape Otway Associates

Key Points:

Australia faces the replacement of more than two thirds of its power generation capacity over the next three decades.
It is believed by many renewable energy advocates that variable renewable energy (VRE) options could replace coal- and gas-fired capacity without compromising the reliability of the power system. However, there is little understanding of the likely costs of doing so.
Most models of future full system costs are based on unrealistic assumptions. This paper outlines an approach to future costs that is based on a more realistic understanding of the technologies involved.
To be deployed at system-wide scale in the future generation mix, wind and solar need backup or storage. This paper provides an indication of the cost level of technology pairs that is more realistically comparable with traditional dispatchable generation.
The results imply that at current costs VRE options are unaffordable at scale. The costs of the VRE options considered by this paper vary from an estimated $125/MWh in the case of the wind/gas option to $1,200/MWh in the case of the rooftop solar/battery option at household level.
The Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE) approach does not provide an adequate foundation either for formulation of sound energy policy or for system planning.

Click here to download the full paper

Public Policy Paper #2/2017: Time to Throw off the Chains

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Robert Pritchard, Energy Policy Institute of Australia

Key Points

Australia has an energy crisis on its hands – with the continued forcing of renewable energy into the National Electricity Market (NEM), closures of power stations and concerns over the security and affordability of both electricity and gas.
In October 2016, following a blackout and load shedding in South Australia, the nine-member Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to appoint an independent panel to develop by mid-2017 a national reform blueprint to maintain energy security in the NEM.
In March 2017, the government of South Australia announced that, whilst it would remain in the NEM, it would, for the security of the SA system, build a state-owned gas-fired generator and legislate to give itself powers to direct the NEM in the event of a shortfall or a failure of ‘market forces.’
Disharmony amongst the Commonwealth and the States over the causes of the energy crisis or its solutions has raised a question of central importance: Is it time for Australia to throw off the chains of ‘cooperative’ energy governance?
The door is open for a National Energy Commission to be established under Commonwealth law.

Click here to download the full paper

Australia has an energy crisis on its hands – with the continued forcing of renewable energy into the National Electricity Market (NEM), closures of power stations and concerns over the security and affordability of both electricity and gas.

In October 2016, following a blackout and load shedding in South Australia, the nine-member Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to appoint an independent panel to develop by mid-2017 a national reform blueprint to maintain energy security in the NEM.

In March 2017, the government of South Australia announced that, whilst it would remain in the NEM, it would, for the security of the SA system, build a state-owned gas-fired generator and legislate to give itself powers to direct the NEM in the event of a shortfall or a failure of ‘market forces.’

Disharmony amongst the Commonwealth and the States over the causes of the energy crisis or its solutions has raised a question of central importance: Is it time for Australia to throw off the chains of ‘cooperative’ energy governance?

The door is open for a National Energy Commission to be established under Commonwealth law.

Public Policy Paper #1/2017: How to reform the electricity market before we reach the top of a cliff

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Stephen Wilson, Cape Otway Associates

Key Points

The Australian National Electricity Market (NEM), burdened by the effect of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) schemes, is no longer capable of delivering a reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply. The NEM, or the RET schemes, or both, will need to be changed to avoid serious failure of the power system in the future.
This paper sets out in plain English a statement of the problem, a diagnosis of the underlying causes at the root of the problem, remedies that have been proposed to solve it, and a vision for reform that would require minimal design changes to create the next generation electricity market.
Six symptoms of the problem evident in the NEM have been identified, which adversely affect power companies, as well as business and household consumers. The root causes are found in conflicts between the design principles on which the NEM is based and those of the RET schemes.
Seven possible responses have been identified, which are considered remedies rather than options, as some of them are potentially complementary. Some remedies would involve retreating from the competitive electricity market reforms of the 1990s, while others would take the reforms to a more mature stage.
The paper makes recommendations that could redress the root causes of the problem, with a minimum of disruption to consumers, the electricity system and the market, and reduce rather than escalate government intervention.

Click here to download the full paper

Public Policy Paper #7/2016: Investing in Electricity Infrastructure in a Low-Carbon Era

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Robert Pritchard, Energy Policy Institute of Australia

Key Points

The increasing penetration of variable renewable energy (VRE) in the National Energy Market (NEM) is causing the closure of coal- and gas-fired power stations, threatening power system security and creating unmanageable risks for investors. This is giving rise to social effects for which the community is not prepared and is occurring during a period of heightened community dissatisfaction with traditional political processes.
The contemporary investment risk profile of each of the three main components of the power system: generation, networks and downstream supply, could not be more different.
There is plenty of money available for investment but electricity generation has become a ‘no-go zone’ unless it is supported by government subsidies or by power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Investment in electricity networks is almost the opposite - institutional investors are queuing to invest because independent economic regulation provides them with predictable long-term revenues.
The NEM is in need of fundamental redesign.
Sound economic and scientific information on energy, as well as new processes of end-user and community consultation, will be required to gain community support for the necessary reforms but the focus of reforms should be the formulation of a truly national energy vision.

pdf Click here to download the full paper

Public Policy Paper #6/2016: The "Pressure Cooker" effect of intermittent renewable generation in power systems

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Professor Simon Bartlett AM, University of Queensland

Key Points

Power systems have fundamental needs: load following, flexibility and dynamic response.
Increasing intermittent renewable generation in a power system has a “pressure cooker” effect and can involve an unaffordably high level of integration costs.
Every power system is different but, in most systems, the practical upper limit for renewables is around 40% of total electricity generated. This may be exceeded but it is likely to require a greater level of interconnection with adjoining power systems, more energy storage, increased recourse to demand-side management and regulatory changes.
The scale-up of intermittent renewables not only diminishes the robustness of a particular power system but can also magnify the short and long-term risk of investing in non-renewable generation assets and the power grid itself.

pdf Click here to download the full paper

This paper underscores the importance of sound and technology-neutral policies to ensure it remains safe to make long-term investments in Australian energy infrastructure. The Institute is intensifying its efforts in this area.

Public Policy Paper #5/2016: East coast gas pipelines - Is price control warranted?

Details: Parent Category: Publications

Author: Dr George Raitt, Piper Alderman

Key Points:

After a year-long inquiry, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission concluded that east coast gas markets are competitive, but that pipeline operators are exercising market power.
During the period of the inquiry, east coast gas prices have been affected (and continue to be affected) by growth in demand for export LNG, volatility in oil prices (against which export LNG prices are pegged), and static domestic demand for gas, leading to shortages and higher prices for domestic users.
The ACCC conclusion is based on anecdotal evidence, and the inquiry did not conduct a forensic investigation into prices, costs and profits, leading some industry participants to contest the findings that pipeline charges (rather than other market forces) have adversely affected household gas prices.
The ACCC considers that current competition law does not address the inefficiencies they perceive, since they have concluded that east coast gas markets are competitive. The ACCC has proposed changes to the gas pipeline access regime because the ACCC considers that the regime does not adequately control what it considers to be excessive pipeline charges.
In questioning the ACCC’s conclusions and recommendations, this paper advocates three points.

pdf Click here to download the full paper.

After a year-long inquiry, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission concluded that east coast gas markets are competitive, but that pipeline operators are exercising market power.

Events

"Meet the author of Blackout - Matthew Warren"

We are excited to invite you to an event where you'll meet the author of 2019’s topical book “Blackout”.

Author Mr Matthew Warren will provide an overview of his book, focusing on ‘unresolved issues and future ideas’ of the energy market and then take questions from the audience.

Location: Sydney

Date: Monday 29 April

Click here for more information

Policy Papers

Policy Paper 3/19 "Finding the Right Balance: Power System Flexibility in an Era of Decarbonisation: An Annotated Bibliography"

Author: Robert Pritchard, Executive Director, EPIA

Click here to download the paper

Policy Paper 2/19 "One judgment brings upheaval for energy and climate policy in Australia"

Author: Robert Pritchard, Executive Director, EPIA

Click here to download the paper

Policy Paper 1/19 "Why no Energy Policy?"

Author: John McDonnell, Principal, McDonnell Policy Analysis

Click here to download the paper

Public Policy Papers: A compendium of Key Points (to April 2019)

Since May 2013 the Institute has published 24 Public Policy Papers.

Click here to view the compendium of key points.