Emergency Backstop in VIC – Why Is It Important?
Victoria consumed the lowest level of electricity on record—just 1,564 MW—on December 31, 2023. It occurred at 1:00 PM on New Year’s Eve. Solar PV panels installed on buildings and residences were supplying 66% of the electricity demanded at that moment. Every year, Victoria’s...
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Types of Inverters Explained – What Does an Inverter Actually Do?
An inverter is a device that changes direct current to alternating current. However, that is only half the story, at least in the real world. The real function of the inverter is to change the direct current, which is usually supplied by a solar...
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Emergency Backstop in South Australia
South Australia recently hit a record for the lowest electricity demand, dropping to -205 MW on October 19, 2024, at 1:00 PM. This happened because the weather was mild, the skies were clear, and a big power user was offline. At that time, solar...
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Emergency Backstop in QLD – What needs to be done?
On 18 August 2024, Queensland also hit a record low energy use of 3,096 MW at 1:00 PM. At that time, solar panels were providing 55% of the power. Energy demand in Queensland has been dropping by about 250 MW per year and is...
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Emergency Backstop in NSW – Why is it important?
New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are experiencing a major change in electricity demand patterns with growing rooftop solar uptake. This has resulted in record-low operational demand levels, posing potential risks to grid stability. In response, the Australian Energy Market...
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Is the NSW Emergency backstop rule good for solar users?
The NSW Emergency Backstop Mechanism is a regulation that will enable the government to temporarily cut or halt the flow of solar energy into the power grid during times when there is too much. It will only be applied to new or upgraded solar...
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Why is managing Queensland’s solar energy a challenge?
Queensland’s power grid is transforming rapidly with increasing numbers of homes and companies installing solar panels. The state had its all-time lowest power demand on August 18, 2024, at a mere 3,096 megawatts (MW) during 1:00 PM. Solar panels at the time provided 55%...
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Victoria’s Emergency Backstop – Why is it important?
Victoria’s lowest-ever electricity demand of 1,564 megawatts (MW) at 1:00 PM was recorded on December 31, 2023. This was due to a significant supply of electricity from solar panels installed in households and workplaces. Solar power constituted 66% of the energy consumed in Victoria...
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Why is South Australia’s energy demand dropping every year?
South Australia’s power consumption was an all-time low of -205 MW on 19 October, 2024, at 1:00 PM. A short power shutdown, sunny skies, and moderate temperatures caused this decline. Solar panels supplied 114% of the required electricity at the time, allowing the extra...
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Is the emergency backstop in WA the best solution?
Emergency backstop is a scheme to regulate excess electricity produced from solar panels installed on houses. When solar power is over-produced and unused, the energy grid becomes unreliable. This would be the case when it’s a sunny day but people consume minimal power. To...
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