Jenny Riesz | The University of New South Wales (original) (raw)
Papers by Jenny Riesz
This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may f... more This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may face in the coming decades. The chapter applies a top-down approach to identify the key drivers that could influence business models. It describes three possible futures in detail. Firstly, the “Centralized” future moves towards decarbonization, but retains the centralized model present in most power systems today. In contrast, the “Decentralized” future moves towards greater decentralization, whilst retaining a significant role for the grid. The “Disconnected” future moves to complete decentralization, with most customers disconnecting from the grid entirely. The chapter concludes that all three scenarios are possible and will have important implications for electric utilities. Wise businesses will adopt a risk management approach.
2015 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2015
IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, 2015
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, 2014
ABSTRACT Renewable technologies are often characterized as being somewhat different to ‘conventio... more ABSTRACT Renewable technologies are often characterized as being somewhat different to ‘conventional’ generating technologies in three ways, each with different implications for electricity markets. Firstly, some have highly variable and somewhat uncertain availability, meaning that electricity markets must be designed to elicit adequate flexibility. Secondly, many have very low short-run marginal costs (operating costs), meaning that the mechanisms for managing resource adequacy must be carefully considered. Thirdly, some are nonsynchronous, meaning that grid codes and regulatory requirements must be appropriately designed. Access to flexibility can be enhanced by a range of market design choices, such as short dispatch intervals, short delays from gate closure to dispatch, large balancing areas, high demand side participation, and exposing renewable technologies to market price signals commensurate with other technologies. The design of markets for frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) also provides opportunities to increase access to flexibility, by creating active real-time markets for a wide range of FCAS, allowing renewable technologies to provide FCAS, and determining FCAS reserve requirements dynamically in real time. Mechanisms for managing resource adequacy are a source of ongoing debate, with many of the key issues having been exacerbated by the entry of renewables. Rapid market change makes investment decisions difficult, regardless of the market model applied. Ultimately, given the existence of arguably successful examples of both energy-only and capacity market designs, the choice of market model may be less important than the quality of governance with which it is implemented and maintained.For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
The Electricity Journal, 2015
Three aspects of the design of Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets that may reduc... more Three aspects of the design of Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets that may reduce costs and facilitate the integration of larger quantities of variable renewables such as wind and solar photovoltaics are identified. These aspects are: 1) dynamic setting of regulation reserves based upon real-time measurement of the time error or an equivalent real-time indicator of reserve adequacy; 2) a sophisticated 'causer pays' mechanism for recovery of regulation costs, and; 3) a primary frequency response market that requires full response within seconds. These aspects have been successfully implemented in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM), and it is therefore proposed that these unique aspects of the NEM FCAS market may serve as an effective model for other electricity systems seeking to integrate higher quantities of variable renewables.
Increasing variable renewable generation penetrations will cause increased cycling operation for ... more Increasing variable renewable generation penetrations will cause increased cycling operation for conventional generating plants. Not all of these plants are necessarily well suited to such operation. Traditional long-term generation planning frameworks often neglect these operational characteristics and therefore do not reflect the operational constraints and costs associated with cycling of generating plants. Using a detailed generation dispatch model in PLEXOS, this study assesses the potential impact of short-term operational constraints and costs on future ‘high renewable’ generation portfolios obtained from a long-term portfolio planning framework. A case study of the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) with different renewable penetrations, ranging from 15% to 85%, suggests that the technical and cost impacts associated with the operational constraints modelled are moderate even at high renewable penetrations. The extent of the impacts also depends particularly on the...
Evolution of Global Electricity Markets, 2013
A modelling tool is applied to assess long-term energy security in the Australian National Electr... more A modelling tool is applied to assess long-term energy security in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). The potential role of renewable energy in increasing the security of electricity supply is examined, with a focus on two aspects: price risk and physical supply risk. Optimised portfolios with no renewable energy (RE) are found to have a diversity index suggestive of a highly concentrated system which could potentially threaten supply security. Increasing the RE penetration from 0% to 50% makes generation portfolios more diversified as well as reducing expected costs, cost risks, and CO 2 emissions. The expected cost is minimised at around 50%-70% RE penetration level, which is approximately the level that results in the most diversified generation portfolio. This analysis suggests that cost risk and fuel diversity are good indicators for determining generation portfolios that can contribute in addressing energy security concerns in both cost and physical supply aspects. The modelling indicates that renewables such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind can play an important role in addressing longterm energy security concerns by reducing electricity price uncertainty and physical supply risk through fuel diversification.
Energy Policy, 2015
A generation portfolio with 75% renewables in 2030 is the most optimal in terms of cost, cost ris... more A generation portfolio with 75% renewables in 2030 is the most optimal in terms of cost, cost risk and emissions. Investment in CCGT is undesirable compared to renewables given the cost risk due to gas and carbon price uncertainties. Renewables can hedge against extreme electricity prices caused by high and uncertain carbon and gas prices. Existing coal-fired plants still play a key role by moving into a peaking role to complement variable renewables. Policy mechanisms to promote renewable generation are important.
Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry, 2014
This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may f... more This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may face in the coming decades. The chapter applies a top-down approach to identify the key drivers that could influence business models. It describes three possible futures in detail. Firstly, the "Centralized" future moves towards decarbonization, but retains the centralized model present in most power systems today. In contrast, the "Decentralized" future moves towards greater decentralization, whilst retaining a significant role for the grid. The "Disconnected" future moves to complete decentralization, with most customers disconnecting from the grid entirely. The chapter concludes that all three scenarios are possible and will have important implications for electric utilities. Wise businesses will adopt a risk management approach.
IET Renewable Power Generation, 2015
ABSTRACT Historically, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has been able to claim a significant pr... more ABSTRACT Historically, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has been able to claim a significant premium' in revenues over other generation types because of its correlation in operation with peak demand (and therefore high priced) periods. However, similar to many international markets, recent conditions in the Australian National Electricity Market, including low demand, high levels of rooftop PV generation and oversupply of capacity, are found to have eliminated the revenue premium for solar. Half-hourly modelling to 2030 illustrates that historical premiums are unlikely to resurface. Storage is shown to increase solar revenues at high penetrations, but can have a detrimental effect on solar revenues at lower solar penetration levels. Therefore at high solar penetration levels, solar generators will be incentivised to develop storage assets, since they can capture additional portfolio market benefits by minimising the decline in solar premiums because of the merit order effect. In contrast, most other market participants will find storage detrimental to revenues because of increasing competition during high priced periods, and will therefore have less incentive to include storage in their portfolios.
From Basic Biology to Industrial Application, 2005
In this chapter, we discuss the key principles of artificial photosynthesis for photovoltaic ener... more In this chapter, we discuss the key principles of artificial photosynthesis for photovoltaic energy conversion. We demonstrate these principles by examining the operation of the socalled "dye sensitized solar cell" (DSSC) -a photoelectrochemical device which simulates the charge separation process across a nano-structured membrane that is characteristic of natural systems. These type of devices have great potential to challenge silicon semiconductor technology in the low cost, medium efficiency segment of the PV market. Ruthenium charge transfer complexes are currently used as the photon harvesting components in DSSCs. They produce a relatively broad band UV and visible response, but have long term stability problems and are expensive to manufacture. In this chapter, we suggest that a class of biological macromolecules called the melanins may be suitable replacements for the ruthenium complexes. They have strong, broad band absorption, are chemically and photochemically very stable, can be cheaply and easily synthesized, and are also bio-available and bio-compatible. We demonstrate a melanin-based regenerative solar cell, and discuss the key properties that are necessary for an effective broad band photon harvesting system.
This paper assesses the value of wind and photovoltaic (PV) generation in mitigating the impact o... more This paper assesses the value of wind and photovoltaic (PV) generation in mitigating the impact of future fuel price, carbon pricing and electricity demand growth uncertainty in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). A quantitative generation portfolio modelling tool which combines optimal generation mix techniques with Monte Carlo simulation to incorporate future uncertainty is employed. Different future investment scenarios for 2030 are considered, ranging from investing only in gas generation to different mixes of renewables and gas investment, through to investing primarily in renewables. Results suggest that future generation portfolios with a large share of gas-fired generation, particularly combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), and minimal renewables are likely to have high cost, and exposed to considerable cost risk due to uncertainty. In contrast, future generation portfolios with high renewable penetration can provide a valuable reduction in the overall cost, assoc...
This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may f... more This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may face in the coming decades. The chapter applies a top-down approach to identify the key drivers that could influence business models. It describes three possible futures in detail. Firstly, the “Centralized” future moves towards decarbonization, but retains the centralized model present in most power systems today. In contrast, the “Decentralized” future moves towards greater decentralization, whilst retaining a significant role for the grid. The “Disconnected” future moves to complete decentralization, with most customers disconnecting from the grid entirely. The chapter concludes that all three scenarios are possible and will have important implications for electric utilities. Wise businesses will adopt a risk management approach.
2015 IEEE PES Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference (APPEEC), 2015
IEEE Power and Energy Magazine, 2015
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, 2014
ABSTRACT Renewable technologies are often characterized as being somewhat different to ‘conventio... more ABSTRACT Renewable technologies are often characterized as being somewhat different to ‘conventional’ generating technologies in three ways, each with different implications for electricity markets. Firstly, some have highly variable and somewhat uncertain availability, meaning that electricity markets must be designed to elicit adequate flexibility. Secondly, many have very low short-run marginal costs (operating costs), meaning that the mechanisms for managing resource adequacy must be carefully considered. Thirdly, some are nonsynchronous, meaning that grid codes and regulatory requirements must be appropriately designed. Access to flexibility can be enhanced by a range of market design choices, such as short dispatch intervals, short delays from gate closure to dispatch, large balancing areas, high demand side participation, and exposing renewable technologies to market price signals commensurate with other technologies. The design of markets for frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) also provides opportunities to increase access to flexibility, by creating active real-time markets for a wide range of FCAS, allowing renewable technologies to provide FCAS, and determining FCAS reserve requirements dynamically in real time. Mechanisms for managing resource adequacy are a source of ongoing debate, with many of the key issues having been exacerbated by the entry of renewables. Rapid market change makes investment decisions difficult, regardless of the market model applied. Ultimately, given the existence of arguably successful examples of both energy-only and capacity market designs, the choice of market model may be less important than the quality of governance with which it is implemented and maintained.For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
The Electricity Journal, 2015
Three aspects of the design of Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets that may reduc... more Three aspects of the design of Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets that may reduce costs and facilitate the integration of larger quantities of variable renewables such as wind and solar photovoltaics are identified. These aspects are: 1) dynamic setting of regulation reserves based upon real-time measurement of the time error or an equivalent real-time indicator of reserve adequacy; 2) a sophisticated 'causer pays' mechanism for recovery of regulation costs, and; 3) a primary frequency response market that requires full response within seconds. These aspects have been successfully implemented in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM), and it is therefore proposed that these unique aspects of the NEM FCAS market may serve as an effective model for other electricity systems seeking to integrate higher quantities of variable renewables.
Increasing variable renewable generation penetrations will cause increased cycling operation for ... more Increasing variable renewable generation penetrations will cause increased cycling operation for conventional generating plants. Not all of these plants are necessarily well suited to such operation. Traditional long-term generation planning frameworks often neglect these operational characteristics and therefore do not reflect the operational constraints and costs associated with cycling of generating plants. Using a detailed generation dispatch model in PLEXOS, this study assesses the potential impact of short-term operational constraints and costs on future ‘high renewable’ generation portfolios obtained from a long-term portfolio planning framework. A case study of the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) with different renewable penetrations, ranging from 15% to 85%, suggests that the technical and cost impacts associated with the operational constraints modelled are moderate even at high renewable penetrations. The extent of the impacts also depends particularly on the...
Evolution of Global Electricity Markets, 2013
A modelling tool is applied to assess long-term energy security in the Australian National Electr... more A modelling tool is applied to assess long-term energy security in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). The potential role of renewable energy in increasing the security of electricity supply is examined, with a focus on two aspects: price risk and physical supply risk. Optimised portfolios with no renewable energy (RE) are found to have a diversity index suggestive of a highly concentrated system which could potentially threaten supply security. Increasing the RE penetration from 0% to 50% makes generation portfolios more diversified as well as reducing expected costs, cost risks, and CO 2 emissions. The expected cost is minimised at around 50%-70% RE penetration level, which is approximately the level that results in the most diversified generation portfolio. This analysis suggests that cost risk and fuel diversity are good indicators for determining generation portfolios that can contribute in addressing energy security concerns in both cost and physical supply aspects. The modelling indicates that renewables such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind can play an important role in addressing longterm energy security concerns by reducing electricity price uncertainty and physical supply risk through fuel diversification.
Energy Policy, 2015
A generation portfolio with 75% renewables in 2030 is the most optimal in terms of cost, cost ris... more A generation portfolio with 75% renewables in 2030 is the most optimal in terms of cost, cost risk and emissions. Investment in CCGT is undesirable compared to renewables given the cost risk due to gas and carbon price uncertainties. Renewables can hedge against extreme electricity prices caused by high and uncertain carbon and gas prices. Existing coal-fired plants still play a key role by moving into a peaking role to complement variable renewables. Policy mechanisms to promote renewable generation are important.
Distributed Generation and its Implications for the Utility Industry, 2014
This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may f... more This chapter applies futures thinking to explore possible scenarios that electric utilities may face in the coming decades. The chapter applies a top-down approach to identify the key drivers that could influence business models. It describes three possible futures in detail. Firstly, the "Centralized" future moves towards decarbonization, but retains the centralized model present in most power systems today. In contrast, the "Decentralized" future moves towards greater decentralization, whilst retaining a significant role for the grid. The "Disconnected" future moves to complete decentralization, with most customers disconnecting from the grid entirely. The chapter concludes that all three scenarios are possible and will have important implications for electric utilities. Wise businesses will adopt a risk management approach.
IET Renewable Power Generation, 2015
ABSTRACT Historically, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has been able to claim a significant pr... more ABSTRACT Historically, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation has been able to claim a significant premium' in revenues over other generation types because of its correlation in operation with peak demand (and therefore high priced) periods. However, similar to many international markets, recent conditions in the Australian National Electricity Market, including low demand, high levels of rooftop PV generation and oversupply of capacity, are found to have eliminated the revenue premium for solar. Half-hourly modelling to 2030 illustrates that historical premiums are unlikely to resurface. Storage is shown to increase solar revenues at high penetrations, but can have a detrimental effect on solar revenues at lower solar penetration levels. Therefore at high solar penetration levels, solar generators will be incentivised to develop storage assets, since they can capture additional portfolio market benefits by minimising the decline in solar premiums because of the merit order effect. In contrast, most other market participants will find storage detrimental to revenues because of increasing competition during high priced periods, and will therefore have less incentive to include storage in their portfolios.
From Basic Biology to Industrial Application, 2005
In this chapter, we discuss the key principles of artificial photosynthesis for photovoltaic ener... more In this chapter, we discuss the key principles of artificial photosynthesis for photovoltaic energy conversion. We demonstrate these principles by examining the operation of the socalled "dye sensitized solar cell" (DSSC) -a photoelectrochemical device which simulates the charge separation process across a nano-structured membrane that is characteristic of natural systems. These type of devices have great potential to challenge silicon semiconductor technology in the low cost, medium efficiency segment of the PV market. Ruthenium charge transfer complexes are currently used as the photon harvesting components in DSSCs. They produce a relatively broad band UV and visible response, but have long term stability problems and are expensive to manufacture. In this chapter, we suggest that a class of biological macromolecules called the melanins may be suitable replacements for the ruthenium complexes. They have strong, broad band absorption, are chemically and photochemically very stable, can be cheaply and easily synthesized, and are also bio-available and bio-compatible. We demonstrate a melanin-based regenerative solar cell, and discuss the key properties that are necessary for an effective broad band photon harvesting system.
This paper assesses the value of wind and photovoltaic (PV) generation in mitigating the impact o... more This paper assesses the value of wind and photovoltaic (PV) generation in mitigating the impact of future fuel price, carbon pricing and electricity demand growth uncertainty in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). A quantitative generation portfolio modelling tool which combines optimal generation mix techniques with Monte Carlo simulation to incorporate future uncertainty is employed. Different future investment scenarios for 2030 are considered, ranging from investing only in gas generation to different mixes of renewables and gas investment, through to investing primarily in renewables. Results suggest that future generation portfolios with a large share of gas-fired generation, particularly combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT), and minimal renewables are likely to have high cost, and exposed to considerable cost risk due to uncertainty. In contrast, future generation portfolios with high renewable penetration can provide a valuable reduction in the overall cost, assoc...