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Category: THE WEEKLY DISPATCH

The Weekly Dispatch is a blog post series summarising the latest developments in the Australian and global energy markets. With so much happening across the sector we want to provide a quick digest of developments we come across during the week. In a given week this could include wholesale market events, news articles, blogs, regulatory developments, academic articles or podcasts.

Pork in the road

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. The AEMC releases the new market price cap in the NEM to be $23,200/MWh from July 1 2026.
  2. The federal government has launched a consultation into domestic capacity to manufacture wind turbines and associated infrastructure.
  3. Regional NSW councils say work on renewable energy projects is damaging local roads.
  4. A major energy company is taking Australia’s largest pork producer to court over plans to build gas pipelines through its property.
  5. The CSIRO launched the $3 million upgrade of its Renewable Energy Integration Facility (REIF) at its Energy Centre in Newcastle.
  6. An alliance of 11 industry groups have delivered a plan to the federal government for data centres, including that they invest in 100% new renewable energy.
  7. Podcast of the week:  Let Me Sum Up is back with carbon pricing and the US climate demands.

Flipping to a new page

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. The NSW Minister for Energy has directed ASL to deliver a firming tender in response to a forecast shortfall in capacity to meet the Energy Security Target from 2033-34.
  2. The offshore oil and gas regulator has shut down exports from Vermilion Oil and Gas Australia’s Wandoo gas field following an oil spill in December.
  3. Solar irradiance forecasting and various ways to predict cloud cover, limiting price spikes due to lower rooftop PV output.
  4. Stanwell has commenced commercial operations of its 300MW/600MWh Tarong battery energy storage system.
  5. [Paywalled]  The Queensland government is resisting giving network operators more powers to switch off household rooftop solar panels during grid distress.
  6. Podcast of the week:  Switched On discusses the ‘messy middle’ of sustainable finance.

Linker Taylor Solar Fly

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. The Australian Energy Regulator gives the green light to the first stage of Marinus Link
  2. Former energy minister Angus Taylor defeats Sussan Ley in a spill for leadership of the Liberal Party
  3. The NEM’s first bona fide solar-BESS hybrid – Quorn Park – enters the testing phase
  4. A solar BESS hybrid has been certified for participation in the Primary Frequency Control market in Japan for the first time
  5. Qantas and Airbus announce investment in Portland Renewable Fuels
  6. It is purported that Donald Trump will direct the Pentagon to purchase power from coal generators
  7. Fortescue begins commissioning of two new electric locomotives in the Pilbara
  8. The International Energy Agency releases a new global demand forecast
  9. The Queensland government has approved oil and gas exploration in the Taroom Trough
  10. Podcast of the week:  The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies discuss a paper regarding gas storage in the EU

A little bit of Monica

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. Snowy Hydro launches its newest tunnel boring machine, Monica, alongside assurances the project is 70% complete.
  2. The successful bids for the NSW Roadmap’s Tender Round 6 were announced, amounting to 1.17 GW (11.98 GWh) of storage.
  3. The federal government announced $60m in subsidies for EV car financing, but only for certain Kias and Hyundais.
  4. Origin Energy and Centennial Coal are in negotiations over coal supply to Eraring Power Station.
  5. A review into the governance of the Australian Energy Market Operator was announced.
  6. The AFR reports on winter demand peak challenges arising in Victoria as household gas use electrifies.
  7. After a false start in January, Japan’s Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear generator is set to resume generation on February 9, bringing 1,360 MW into the system.
  8. Economic Regulation Authority Western Australia release Benchmark Reserve Capacity Prices for the 2028/29 capacity year, using six hour BESS as the Benchmark Technology.
  9. Podcast of the week:  The Volts Podcast discuss the challenges of clean electrification in Taiwan.

Southern Discomfort

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. The AFR reports that the Federal Government is looking to streamline data centre approvals.
  2. South Australia saw a prolonged period of high prices owing to high temperatures.
  3. The Superpower Institute release a research piece advocating for a “Polluter Pays Levy”.
  4. AEMO’s Quarterly Energy Dynamics Q4 2025 report summarises recent demand and supply side development.
  5. The Victorian Government have put out a Request for Tender for 2 GW of offshore wind.
  6. Victoria recorded a new maximum demand, hitting 10,784 MW.
  7. JERA, Japan’s largest generator, reaches a low-carbon ammonia offtake agreement with American producer CF holdings, following recent plans to co-fire it’s largest coal plant with ammonia.
  8. Podcast of the week:  The Interchange discuss the growing roll of fuel cells in meeting data centre demand in the US.

Ops I did it again

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. Eraring coal-fired power station to stay open for another two years until 2029.
  2. Griffin coal mine in Western Australia has been extended for up to another five years.
  3. Japan restarts Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power plant, but then had to close it again due to safety concerns with the control rods.
  4. The Government released the Solar Sharer Offer (SSO) consultation outcome paper.
  5. South Australia is facing power outages due to dust pollution.
  6. Akaysha Energy has commenced operations at its 205MW/410MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland, five months ahead of the original schedule.
  7. A study finds that climate change increased the chance of intense Australian heatwaves by fivefold.
  8. Podcast of the week:  Bloomberg chat about global spending on power grids.

Bang for your Buck

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. Two pumped hydro energy storage projects have been submitted for approval in Tasmania and Queensland.
  2. Bell Bay power station is demolished with a bang.
  3. ASL launched its 2026 investment priorities and consultation on a new Hybrid Generation LTESA product.
  4. The UK awards contracts to eight offshore wind farms to power 12 million homes.
  5. Podcast of the week:  Bloomberg on SwitchedOn chat about key global materials and metals to look out for in 2026.

Próspero año y electricidad

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. More than 35,000 without power in Victoria due to bushfires.
  2. The Federal Government approved 54 renewable energy projects in 2025 and estimates that 7 GW of capacity was added to the grid (including small-scale solar).
  3. Minimum demand records were broken in South Australia and Victoria, -263 MW and 1,287 MW respectively.
  4. Eraring Battery 1 (460MW/1,770MWh) has commenced commercial operations.
  5. EnergyConnect’s final steel tower has been constructed.
  6. Podcast of the week: Columbia Energy Exchange chats about Oil and Venezuela.

Merry SWISmas

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. The final report of the National Electricity Market wholesale market settings review was released this week.
  2. The CSIRO released their Draft 2025-26 GenCost Report.
  3. AEMO released the Western Australian GSOO.
  4. The AEMC will undertake a review to reconsider the role of electricity networks in the transition. They are also consulting on the ISP Review and have made a final determination that all new smart meters installed from 30 November 2028 will have the capability to wirelessly communicate real-time data. 
  5. Tilt Renewable’s Waddi Wind Farm in Western Australia is the first wind project in Australia to reach a Final Investment Decision in 2025.
  6. There will be an additional $5 Billion for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program.
  7. The Climate Council sums up the seven biggest climate stories from Australia in 2025.
  8. Podcast of the week: Ausgrid, on Wired for good, chats about the Distribution System Plan featuring Endgame’s modelling with a shout-out!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, AEMO gave to me…

Posted on by Angela Vumbaca

In this Weekly Dispatch:

  1. AEMO released the draft 2026 integrated system plan.
  2. The federal government’s subsidy for electricity bills will not be extended into next year.
  3. A Singaporean energy giant has bought Alinta, if regulatory clearances are approved.
  4. The AEC sums up the Australian year in Energy.
  5. The Prime Minister has announced a deal is being finalised to keep the Tomago Aluminium smelter open beyond 2028.
  6. The Queensland state government has announced a $26 million rebate program for rooftop solar installed by landlords on their rental properties
  7. ARENA invests $21 million in EV charging infrastructure.
  8. The AEMC released draft recommendations from its pricing review with Endgame’s modelling for the EnergyCharter informing their analysis.
  9. The AEMC also made a final rule requiring newly connecting retail gas customers to pay the upfront cost of their connection, and the Reliability Panel has published its final determination for the Review of the System Restart Standard.
  10. The 600MW/1.6GWh Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub has commenced commercial operations in Victoria.
  11. Our own Emily Cooper was interviewed by the Sydney Morning Herald (paywalled).
  12. Grass fire at a solar farm.
  13. Podcast of the week:  Switched on talk about decarbonising heavy industries.

Contact

ph. P +61 2 9037 0370
e. E info@endgameanalytics.com.au
a. A
Level 31, 9 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000
ph. +61 2 9037 0370
e. info@endgameanalytics.com.au
a.
Level 31, 9 Castlereagh St, Sydney NSW 2000

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