Australian Daily Electrical Power Generation Data – Friday 26th April 2019

Posted on Sat 04/27/2019 by

1


By Anton Lang ~

ERROR ALERT:

The original of this Post has been changed. An error on my part was made when recording the data for coal fired power. It puzzled me at the time, because the totals were a lot lower than normal. I missed checking a couple of the boxes for those 48 coal fired Units, and because of that, all the numbers for coal fired power were lower. I noticed the error the following morning when I checked that data again, and found all the numbers for coal fired power to be quite a bit higher. That necessitated a change to the data for coal fired power. It also had a roll on effect to the overall total, and all the percentages for all sources of power generation. I have changed all the data and the image for coal fired power to reflect the correct data…..TonyfromOz.

This Post details the daily power consumption data for the AEMO coverage area in Australia. For the background information, refer to the Introductory Post at this link.

Each image is shown here at a smaller size to fit on the page alongside the data for that day. If you click on each image, it will open on a new page and at a larger size so you can better see the detail.

Note also the scale change for all of the images, and that even though they look similar in size of generation, that scale (the total power shown on the left hand vertical axis) has been changed to show the graph at a larger size to better fit the image for that graph.

Friday 26th April 2019

Total Power Generation All Sources

Here, the total power generation from every power plant source is the top of the load curve, with each colour indicating a source of power generation. This is also similar to the total power consumption, which is slightly lower after minor grid losses are taken into account.

The dark grey colour is for the black coal fired power generation. The yellowish colour is for the brown coal fired power generation. The purple colour is for natural gas fired power generation. The blue colour is for Hydro (water) power generation. The green colour is for wind power generation. The red colour in the dip between the two peaks is for solar power plant generation. The other colours mixed in with the rest of them are from those smaller Other sources. Rooftop solar power is not included on this graph, as this shows just the power generation from all power plants only.

In the data below, both of those (exact) figures for total power consumption for the daily minimum and the daily Peak are taken directly from the AEMO site, adding up the totals for each of the five States in this coverage area. Also, note the slight difference between Total Consumed Power and Total Generated Power. That indicates some of the losses in the grid system

Daily Minimum Power Consumption – 16340MW (4.00AM)

Daily Peak Power Consumption – 24050MW (6.15PM)

Daily Minimum Generated Power – 17100MW (4.00AM)

Daily Maximum Generated Power – 25000MW (6.15PM)

Average Total Power Generation – 21450MW

Total Power Generation In GWH – 514.8GWH

All Fossil Fuels Total – Coal Fired and Natural Gas Fired Power Generation

Here, the upper black line is the total from all fossil fuels, and this is the same as for all three colours, the grey, dark yellow and purple colours combined in the image directly above.

The black line just under that top black line is the Sub Total just for coal fired power, and that is the same as the combined colours of the grey and ark yellow on the image above. Note here how closely that coal fired line follows the shape of the upper Load Curve, and this indicates that coal fired power can be ramped up and down to follow actual power consumption.

Daily Minimum Coal Fired – 12910MW

Daily Peak Coal Fired – 18140MW

Average Coal Fired Generation – 15510MW

Total Generated Power – 372.24GWH

Average Percentage Of Total – 72.31%

Natural Gas Fired Power Generation

This image for Natural Gas Fired Power Generation shows the gap between the total for all Fossil Fuelled Sources of power generation and Coal Fired Power Generation in the image directly above.

Note here how closely the shape follows the total power generation Load Curve in the top image, indicating how these natural gas fired plants are used to smooth out the load curve to match actual power consumption.

Note also that while coal fired power provides the bulk of the power, these natural gas fired plants are used to add more power to the system during those time periods during the day when consumption rises for the morning peak, and the main evening Peak

Daily Minimum – 770MW

Daily Peak – 2340MW

Average Natural Gas Fired Generation – 1210MW

Total Generated Power – 29.04GWH

Average Percentage Of Total – 5.64%

All Renewable Power Generation Versus Total Power Generation

This Image shows just the gap between total power generation from every source and the total power from the three renewable sources only. It is the same image as the first image at the top here, only with the fossil fuelled total (the grey, yellow and purple colours) and those smaller Other sources removed from the graph, As in that top image, it shows Hydro Power, (blue colour) wind power, (green colour) and solar power. (red colour)  This image is used here to highlight the gap between the total power generation (that black line, which also includes RTS as well) and the total from renewable sources alone.

All Renewable Power Generation (Does not include rooftop solar generation)

This image is the same as for the one directly above for all renewable power, only with the total from all sources removed from the graph. As the scale of the left hand vertical axis has now changed, you can better see the detail of all renewable power. Again, the blue colour is for hydro, the green colour is for wind, and the red colour is for solar. The other colours you can just make out indicates smaller plants, mostly using biofuels as their fuel source, tiny plants adding up to a very small total and for a short time duration. For this data, I have added the times for the daily minimum, and the daily maximum, to show how they do not correlate with the actual times of minimum power consumption (4AM) and maximum power consumption. (around 6/6.30PM)

Daily Minimum – 3100MW

Daily Peak – 5900MW

Average Renewable Generation – 4460MW

Total Generated Power – 107.04GWH

Average Percentage Of Total – 20.79%

Generation From Other Sources

This image shows the power being generated from the smaller sources other than the major sources of power generation. These include Natural Gas/Diesel, Natural gas/Fuel Oil, Coal Seam Methane, Diesel, Kerosene, Waste Coal Mine Gas and Bagasse. All of these are fossil Fuels, excepting Bagasse which is sugar cane waste mostly used to provide main and auxilliary power at sugar mills.

Note the scale change here, as these are smaller producers of power, and the scale is changed so they can be more easily shown on the graph.

For the data here, I have just added the average generation across the day, the total generated power from all these sources, and the percentage of the total.

Average Generation – 270MW

Total Generated Power – 6.48GWH

Average Percentage Of Total – 1.26%

Hydro Power Generation

This image shows all Hydro power generation. It is the same as the blue colour in the top image for power generation from all sources.

Again, note here that the shape of this load curve follows the shape of the main load curve for all power generation, in that it has similar peaks in the morning and for the main evening Peak. The coloured lines at the bottom of this graph indicate the power generation from each of the hydro plants in this coverage area.

Daily Minimum – 380MW

Daily Peak – 2330MW

Average Hydro Generation – 990MW

Total Generated Power – 23.76GWH

Average Percentage Of Total – 4.62%

Wind Power Generation

This image shows the total power generated by every wind plant in this vast coverage area. It is the same as for the green coloured line in the image at the top showing generation from all sources.

The total Nameplate for all these wind plants is 6106MW.

Note that the shape of this load curve does not follow the shape of the main load curve for total power generation. Wind power generates its power only when the wind is blowing, hence it does not follow actual power consumption levels.

For this data, I have added the times for the daily minimum, and the daily maximum, to show how they do not correlate with the actual times of minimum power consumption (4AM) and maximum power consumption. (around 6/6.30PM in Winter and earlier during the Summer Months.)

Daily Minimum – 1900MW (11.55PM)

Daily Peak – 3880MW (1.40PM)

Average Wind Generation – 3070MW

Total Generated Power – 73.68GWH

Average Percentage Of Total – 14.31%

Solar Power Plant Generation

This image shows the total power generated from all the solar power plants in this coverage area. This is the same as for the red coloured area you can just see in that top image.

The total Nameplate for all these 35 solar plants is 2549MW.

Daily Minimum – Zero

Daily Peak – 1370MW

Average Solar Plant Generation for hours of generation – 880MW (7.00AM till 6.00PM)

Average Solar Plant Generation across the whole 24 hour day – 400MW

Total Generated Power – 9.6GWH

Average Percentage Of Total across the whole 24 hour day – 1.86%

Rooftop Solar Power Generation

As this source of power generation is classed as ‘behind the meter’, it is not included in the total power generation. Note here that the State of Queensland (QLD on the legend under the graph) is broken down into four separate areas as this is the largest State with the largest number of installations.

While the total Nameplate changes often, the latest information is that the total is now 8000MW and higher, and that is a large total. However, that total equates to almost 2 Million homes with panels on their roof. That equates to an average sized installation of 4.3KW. Most of the power is consumed by the homes with the panels, and what is fed back to the grid is only consumed in the local residential areas. While seemingly still high this total is spread across that huge number of installations across the whole of this coverage area.

Daily Minimum – Zero

Daily Peak – 3180MW

Average For Hours of Generation – 1720MW (6.30AM till 6.00PM)

Average Rooftop Solar Generation across the whole 24 hour day – 820MW

Total Generated Power – 19.68GWH

Average Percentage Of Total across the whole 24 hour day – 3.82%

Wind And Solar Power Generation Versus Total Power Generation

This image shows the total power generated from all the wind plants, and all the solar power plants in this coverage area, combined in the one image, and compares it to the overall total generated power, the black line at the top of the graph, which also includes RTS as well. Wind power is the green coloured area, and solar plant power is the red coloured area, and these are the same as shown in those other coloured images at the top of the Post.

I have also added the data below for the total generated power for both wind and solar plant power combined, and the percentage of the overall total below for the maximum power from both sources with respect to the overall total, both at the maximum for both, and then for the total for both at the daily peak Power time.

Daily Peak for Wind and Solar Plant Power – 5100MW

Average Across the whole day – 3470MW

Total Generated Power – 83.28GWH

Average Percentage of Total across the whole 24 hour day – 16.17%

Total Generated power at the daily maximum for both wind and solar plant power, the time of that maximum, and percentage of the total at that daily maximum –  5100MW – 1.45PM – 24.17%

Total Generated power for wind and solar plant power at Peak Power Consumption time for the day, and percentage of total at that daily Peak Power time – 3000MW – 6.15PM – 12%

Overall Total With Rooftop Solar Power Added

This image shows the overall total generated power with Rooftop Solar Power (RTS) added to the total from all of the power plants. RTS is shown here as that orange colour added near the top of the graph in the middle, during daylight hours, and is indicated on the legend below the graph as Rooftop PV (PhotoVoltaics). The new overall total is that black line along the top of the Load Curve. Note here that with this RTS total added, the shape of the full load curve, the black line now looks almost exactly as Summer load curves used to look prior to the advent of RTS, and all those panels on roofs of private dwellings.

Notes

  1. Finding Averages – On each (non solar) graph, there are 25 hourly time points, starting with midnight and finishing with midnight. I have added the total at each time point together, and divided by 25.
  2. For both solar power averages, I have used the same addition of hourly time points and then divided by the same number of those time points of actual generation. Every so often, as the days get longer (or shorter after Summer) I change the hours of generation as those hours change.
  3. For total power in GWH, multiply the average daily power by 24, and then divide by 1000.
  4. The total percentages for coal fired power, natural gas fired power, all renewables, and those other smaller sources add up to 100%.
  5. The total percentages for Hydro, Wind, and Solar adds up to the total percentage for all Renewables.
  6. Total Generated Power is expressed here as GWH (GigaWattHours) and a GWH is a MWH (MegaWattHour) multiplied by 1000

Comments For This Day

As I mentioned at the start of the Post, there was an error in recording the data for coal fired power. The text has been slightly changed to reflect the change in that data…..TonyfromOz.

After the Public Holiday of the day before, it was a normal work and school day, and power consumption rose, and in line with that, so did overall power generation, back up to average (for this time of year) levels, and on this day, the total power generation was 514.8GWH, at an hourly average of 21450MW, a rise on the day before of 1800MW, and that’s a significant increase of 9.2%.

The early AM Base Load was 100MW lower, and the evening peak was at 6.15PM, and that was 25000MW, higher than the day before by 1400MW. In the individual five States, the peak in New South Wales (NSW) was 360MW higher. In Queensland, it was 220MW higher. In Victoria, it was 600MW higher. In the two smallest power consuming States, the peak in South Australia was 150MW higher, and in Tasmania, it was 110MW higher.

While that overall rose by a significant amount, the average for coal fired power was lower, down to 15510MW, a drop of 40MW. The range between the low on the day, and the high was way higher than normal, at 5230MW. That was not because the maximum was up, as it also was lower than for a normal working day, but because the minimum for coal fired power generation was lower than usual around that early AM time when consumption was at its lowest, and coal fired power was down to a generation of only 12910MW, the lowest it has been for quite a while. In Queensland, one of the more modern plants, the SuperCritical plant at Millmerran had its Unit 2 go off line between 8AM and 3PM. It’s a rare thing to see one of these Units go down for maintenance, as they are still considered new, so their maintenance times are few and far between. There are eight of those coal fired Units off line, four in Queensland, and two each in NSW and Victoria.

The average for natural gas fired power was higher by 280MW. The average for those smaller Other sources was also higher, up by 60MW. The average for hydro power was higher by 190MW, and the average for solar plant power was lower by 30MW.

Wind power had an outstanding day, in fact, probably the best day I have seen for wind power since beginning to record this data. The average was 3070MW per hour, higher on the day by 1340MW, and this gave wind power a daily operational Capacity Factor (CF) of 50.28%. The high for wind power was 3880MW, at a CF of 63.5%. Note here that this is the best day in ages for wind power, and it still only reaches 50% of its total.

With that overall way up, and coal fired power a little down, it’s worth pointing out that coal fired power still delivered 72.31% of all the required power across the day.

Anton Lang uses the screen name of TonyfromOz, and he writes at this site, PA Pundits International on topics related to electrical power generation, from all sources, concentrating mainly on Renewable Power, and how the two most favoured methods of renewable power generation, Wind Power and all versions of Solar Power, fail comprehensively to deliver levels of power required to replace traditional power generation. His Bio is at this link.

OzPowerGenerationTFO

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Posted in: Australia, Climate Change, Coal Fired Power, Electrical Power Generation, Hydro Electric Power, Natural Gas Fired Power, Politics, Public Opinion, Renewable Energy, Solar Power, Wind Power