For decades, a big risk to Australia's electricity system has been excessive demand in summer. Now, it is excessive supply in spring.
Rooftop solar output has reached such enormous levels that authorities have begun issuing warnings about their ability to keep the electricity system from being overloaded at times.
AEMO signalled it could also force transmission lines taken out of service for maintenance to come back online to act as a relief valve for surplus Victorian solar power. About 3 million households – or one in three – currently have a solar system on their roof across the national electricity market , which services Australia's eastern seaboard.
These times were most acute on mild, sunny days when households and businesses were using relatively modest amounts of electricity but solar generation was at its most productive. The need for a minimum demand threshold – or floor below which demand for power from the grid should not fall – has become increasingly important in recent years as the level of output from solar has grown ever higher.According to AEMO, the thresholds are needed to ensure there is enough room for conventional generators such as coal- and gas-fired power plants to operate.
According to AEMO, a lack of plants able to provide "essential system services" puts the security of the system at risk.
Rooftop Electricity Overload AEMO Victoria Minimum Demand Grid Curtail Gridcog Paul Mcardle Watt Clarity
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