Cold snap, gas cap
What GPG constraints would mean for WEM prices 25 August 2025: the day the SWIS hit the cap On 25 August 2025, Real-Time Market (RTM) prices reached the then market price cap of $900/MWh. A polar cold front held Perth to a maximum of 11.4°C, its coldest day in more than 50 years, and heating demand surged. At the same time, heavy cloud cover with sporadic breaks made rooftop solar generation volatile, leaving operational demand forecasts inconsistent and unstable. The system turned to its usual answer: gas. But pipeline constraints curtailed OCGT output just when it was needed most, and liquid fuel units were brought on to cover the gap […]
Bell Bay Blues
Highlights from the Australian market News from Japan Podcast of the week Zugzwang: Episode 4 – Benchmarking battery optimisers The latest episode of Zugzwang: The market modelling podcast is now available! Jack Simpson and Oliver Nunn are joined by Rakhesh Martyn, founder and CEO of Hachiko, to unpack how battery optimisers actually capture value. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0346ILtbXgKJJIlOy64p1iApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zugzwang/id6801348317YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQ3gvq2Ccils
Divide by zero
Highlights from the Australian market News from Japan Podcast of the week Columbia Energy Exchange looks at the Iran war six months on. With crude near $107 a barrel, Hormuz tanker traffic reduced and Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline offline, they warn that the market buffers that cushioned the early shock are running out.