Heather Wang

NEM capacity expanded by 69MW in August. Solar farm weighted prices continue to struggle while wind continues to be less adversely impacted. Batteries provided crucial FCAS in SA while VIC continued its role as a key energy hub. Lower TAS wind generation led to highest spot prices.

In July, capacity increased by 215MW, Generator Weighted Average prices declined along with Time Weighted Averages, VRE curtailment rates increased, and batteries provided crucial grid stability. VIC remained the dominant energy exporter while Snowy storages are the lowest in 5-years.

Generation capacity grew by 1,172MW. Extreme price events lifted wind and solar GWA prices, though farms couldn't fully capitalise on these events, resulting in larger discounts to TWA prices. The curtailment rate for solar and wind rose in most regions. TAS net imports from VIC hit a 15-year high.

Battery storage grew by 490MWh in May, with the addition of two new large-scale batteries in SA. QLD batteries outperformed other BESS of the NEM, amassing $6.3m in revenue. Renewable generation levels for May surged thanks to clearer weather, growing solar capacity, and record high wind generation.

The NEM expanded by 201MW in April. Wind farm GWA prices aligned better with rising spot prices, while solar farms showed contrary trends. All regions suffered higher wind curtailment than last April. TAS hydro generation hit a seven-year April low, deepening dependence on VIC’s exports.

In March, 1,147MW of new capacity was connected. QLD was the only region to enjoy an increase in Generator Weighted Average prices, while wind weighted prices fell for all regions. SA solar and wind suffered the most curtailment. VIC was the dominant energy exporter and NSW the largest importer.

February brought no new connections to the NEM. Generator-Weighted Average prices improved for solar and wind across most regions, except QLD. Solar and wind farms continued to face large curtailment. VIC was the dominant energy exporter while TAS was the biggest importer in February.

The NEM added 185MW capacity in January. Generator-Weighted Average prices declined for wind and solar farms in most regions, with solar farms facing deeper discounts to Time-Weighted Average prices. Solar curtailment remained high, particularly in SA. QLD's reliance on NSW during peak demand grows.

In 2024, record new generation capacity joined the electricity market. Wind weighted prices were at record lows for all regions except SA, while higher daytime prices improved solar farm performance across the NEM. Broader ranges in operational demand across regions intensified market volatility.

The NEM expanded its capacity by 121MW in November. Warm temperatures plus extended baseload outages contributed to tight supply-demand balance, driving exceptional NEM Generator-weighted Average price growth in November, with NSW and QLD leading gains.

The NEM expanded its capacity by 167MW in October. While demand remained at historical lows, Generator-weighted Average prices strengthened across most regions. VIC continued to experience persistent negative prices, causing energy flows to shift towards regions with more favourable pricing.

NEM capacity grew by 340MW in September. Strong winds and mild weather led to lower demand and extensive curtailment, depressing Generator-Weighted Average prices. Many farms increased reliance on Large-scale Generation Certificates for revenue. TAS transitioned from importer to net exporter to VIC.