Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
250 MW of gas fired generation sitting idle?
NG prices have skyrocketed with Oz's exports now being a multiple factor of our domestic consumption...$9/GJ at 11AM today (Sunday), will be in the $10s or $11s during the week, more when the heating season starts.
A Decent CCGT with a heat rate of 7 (GJ/MWh) would have a fuel cost of $70/MWh (7c/KWh)...the gas thermals $120/MWh fuel costs.
The CCGTs can't make enough on the peaks to justify manning when the wind is blowing and the brown coal electricity is flowing from Victoria.
The whole equation of how to justify renewable needs to be changed. Instead of pricing it against the total cost, fixed cost like standby labor and capex must be now shared by all bill payer, just like backup generators for businesses that need them.
I still think if we do it right, like using inverter and HVDC power transmission to address the synchronization, we can make renewable work eventually, but it is probably going to cost more than advertised at today's cost.
Don't forget though, if you single source on anything, like NG, coal, oil, or nuke, someone will be profiting from the monopoly and you'll be paying through the nose. So, the more variety out there done the right way the better.