Research
Use the tools below to access our extensive archive of publications and media content. You can search by category and type.
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Submission to AEMC on 2nd draft of Wholesale Demand Response rule change We made an independent submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission on the second draft rule and draft determination for the Wholesale Demand Response rule change. We supported the Commission's more preferable rule on the basis that it contains a considerable number of changes to the mechanism which increase the effectiveness of the reform. We cautioned against any delay to implementation.
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AEMC submission supporting solar consumers The Australian Energy Market Commission is considering a rule change that would allow distribution networks to charge households with solar PV for the energy they export. Our submission argues that it would be unfair to bring in a new system of charges to cover the supposed costs of DER before DER can also earn fair revenue for the benefits it generates. The Post 2025 Market Redesign project driven by the Energy Security Board is the right proces... Read More
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Submission to Helen Haines MP inquiry into a Community Energy Plan for Regional Australia Between May - July 2020 Helen Haines MP, the member for Indi, Victoria, ran a national co-design process to formulate a Community Energy Plan for Regional Australia.The Australia Institute has made a submission that references our prior research including two publications by Dan Cass on community renewable energy and regional renewable energy development.Our key recommendations and findings are:Community ownership and control of energy... Read More
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Submission to Inquiry into sustainability of energy supply and resources in NSW This submission presents preliminary findings from a research project titled Rural Communities and Renewable Energy: A Socio-economic Study in NSW, conducted by The Australia Institute and University of Sydney Environment Institute. The key preliminary finding is that the lack of a national process for local engagement and planning of energy infrastructure reduces the benefits of this development and risks creating conflict in rural communities.... Read More
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Energy reform after COVID-19Coal generators are pushing to delay important reforms that would make the National ElectricityMarket more reliable and efficient and help lower emissions. Speeding up NEM reform will help drive economic recovery, not delay it. -
Submission on Offshore Clean Energy Bill discussion paper The Federal Government is expected to move in 2020 to pass legislation to start an offshore renewable energy sector.Wind is currently the sole commercially viable offshore renewable energy generation technology and it has considerable potential to contribute to the Australian and global energy mix.If the Federal Government draws on lessons learned in Europe’s successful offshore wind sector then it can design a good framework for the development... Read More
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Class ACT: How the Australian Capital Territory became a global energy leaderThe ACT will soon become the first Australian jurisdiction to achieve a transition from a fossil fuel based supply to 100% renewable electricity. Just seven other jurisdictions have achieved this, in Germany, Austria and Spain.
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Keeping up with the competitionWholesale demand response brings benefits to consumers and reduces energy prices. A rule change currently being considered by the Australian Energy Market Commission is supported by a wide range of consumer groups, but opposed by incumbent energy companies. Demand response is being introduced in major markets such as the USA, EU and China, where similar patterns of support and opposition have been observed.
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Cross-Industry Pressure Builds for ‘Demand Response’ Energy ReformA broad range of Australian business and industry representatives have written a letter supporting changes to the country’s energy rules that would allow demand response aggregators to enter the National Energy Market. The proposed change would allow companies to pay households, farms and businesses to reduce their use of energy, instead of turning on more expensive generators, when demand and wholesale prices are high. Signatories to the le... Read More
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Fair Dinkum Power Senate Submission The Australia Institute has long argued that the decline of fossil fuels in the electricity sector presents great opportunities for consumers, in terms of affordability, reliability and sustainability. The traditional model of centralised generators with a monopoly on supply is dying. Information and computing technology is providing the capability for consumers to flip the switch and become ‘prosumers’, able to produce, store, trade and manage... Read More