Low carbon generation

A year of progress: Low-carbon Hydrogen Policy Index findings

Since publishing the previous iteration of the Low-carbon Hydrogen Policy Index in April 2023, the global hydrogen market has continued to grow and develop as both national governments and industry stakeholders have sought to expand the role of hydrogen in their decarbonisation plans. See what changes have happened since the...

Announcement

Latest FCAS price curves Q1 2024

Cornwall Insight Australia released the latest Frequency Control Ancillary Service (FCAS) price curves for Q1 2024. The new Very Fast FCAS markets have 3 more months in the books, and as they settle into a reasonably stable quarter, clearer trends have emerged. This release, we re-calibrate our FCAS market curve...

Regulation and policy

How effective were the UK’s energy bill support schemes? 

Introduced during a period of record high energy prices, the UK Government's energy support schemes came to an end on 31 March this year. Evaluating emergency measures such as these purely on their value for money is difficult, as the policy was intended to serve multiple purposes.   At the time...

Commercial and market outlook

Latest Australia Benchmark Power Curve insight for Q1 2024

Cornwall Insight Australia has released our latest NEM Benchmark power curve (NEM BPC) for Q1 2024 to our subscribers. Our latest data from our recent Australian NEM Benchmark Power Curve shows that policy settings and decarbonisation ambition is likely to lead to a temporary, but significant, increase in wholesale energy...

Regulation and policy

Government Announces Record Budget for Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6

The government has released the budget and reference prices, along with the auction parameters, for the upcoming Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 6 (AR6). As recently reported, there were considerable questions outstanding about the parameters which will be used in the auction and significant pressure was placed on AR6...

Regulation and policy

Two years on: How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reshaped the UK’s energy landscape

Two years ago, on 24 February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. As well as causing widespread devastation and displacement, resulting in a humanitarian crisis, the ensuing conflict also had a wide range of consequences for the energy sector such as causing a structural change in European gas...

Energy storage and flexibility

Revenue Stacking for Flexibility: A Deep Dive into GB Electricity Flexibility Services 

In the ever-evolving landscape of the energy sector, the role of flexibility services in ensuring a stable and resilient electricity grid has become increasingly vital. As the demand for renewable energy sources continues to grow, flexibility service providers play a crucial role in balancing supply and demand, optimising grid performance,...

Low carbon generation

Battery storage in Japan: An up-and-coming market?

This paper includes exclusive insights from Cornwall Insight’s Japan Benchmark Power Curve. In this insight paper, we discuss the demand and challenges accompanying Japan's changing energy mix. Aiming to address whether, as the transition to net zero creates greater need and opportunities for faster dispatch electricity storage, could Japan represent...

Low carbon generation

Latest developments in the TPI space

We recently published our 2023 Annual TPI report which provides an independent review and analysis of the market for TPIs, and the services provided by them. The report also looks at the current challenges and opportunities for TPIs, such as regulatory changes, competition with suppliers, and diversification of services. 2023...

Low carbon generation

Is Germany going green? Charting Germany’s energy transition (2nd edition)

This paper includes exclusive insights from Cornwall Insight’s North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve. The first edition of this report was published in June 2023. Using exclusive insights from our new North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve, our insight paper assesses the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges on Germany’s...

Low carbon generation

Is Germany going green? Charting Germany’s energy transition (2nd edition)

This paper includes exclusive insights from Cornwall Insight’s North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve. The first edition of this report was published in June 2023. Using exclusive insights from our new North West Europe Benchmark Power Curve, our insight paper assesses the impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges on Germany’s...

Low carbon generation

Learning curves and the many moving parts of the CfD Auctions

Learning curves are an important part of the toolbox of energy system modelling, representing the benefits of learning by doing and the economies of scale. The learning rate describes how as production doubles capacity cost reduces, so a learning rate of 15% would imply that as production doubles, costs would...

Commercial and market outlook

What to look out for in 2024

Cornwall Insight experts provide their predictions for the year ahead in this handy infographic. We have collated some predictions from across our knowledge base to provide a quick snapshot of what to look out for in the GB energy market in 2024. The key highlights include the global discussion on...

Low carbon generation

Q4 2023 All-Island Power Market Outlook to 2030 overview

This report provides an annual overview of trends for the All-Ireland Power Market out to 2030 using outputs from Cornwall Insight’s latest forward curve for the All-Island (AI) Single Electricity Market (SEM) covering Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This publication is based on comprehensive market and asset-level power...

Low carbon generation

GB Power Market Outlook to 2030 Q4 2023

This report provides an annual overview of trends for the GB Power Market out to 2030 using outputs from Cornwall Insight’s latest Benchmark Power Curve (BPC) for the British Electricity Market covering England, Scotland and Wales. This publication is based on comprehensive market and asset-level power price modelling that delivers...

Regulation and policy

Calm after the storm although transition begins to lag | 2023 year in review

This year saw a return to relative calmness after the energy shocks of last year, while governments are playing an increasing role as the rate of new renewable generation lags. Spot pricing was subdued compared to last year, with no significant unexpected outages that caused sustained price spikes. Higher levels...

Announcement

Offshore wind now appears in latest ISP

The ISP also forecasts that greater flexible gas generation is needed From Cornwall Insight Australia's Energy Market Alerts service Offshore wind officially appears in the draft 2024 ISP due to state-based offshore wind targets. Figure 1 below from our latest Energy Market Alert, shows the variance in forecast generation between...

Power and gas networks

Considerations for forecasting non-commodity costs for large users

Electricity non-commodity costs, also known as Third Party Charges (or TPCs), are faced by the vast majority of end consumers that use electricity. They represent a significant proportion of the energy bill for domestic, SME and large industrial user types; however, their applicability and scale can vary depending on the...

Net zero corporates and ESG

Race to net zero: Rebuilding investor confidence in the UK

In our recent insight paper “Race to net zero: Rebuilding investor confidence in the UK”, published on 30 November, we discuss how increased macroeconomic pressures and rising international competition for capital have impacted the UK’s ability to secure investment in renewables and maintain momentum towards net zero. We also investigate...

E-mobility and low carbon

Paving the way: EV Country Attractiveness Index findings

Following the previous iteration of the EVCA Index, published in September 2023, the EV market has continued to grow across Europe. From October 2022 to October 2023, the EU, Norway, and the UK have seen a combined 29% year-on-year increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales. Cornwall Insight have partnered...

Announcement

New South Wales REZ outlook

From Cornwall Insight Australia's Energy Market Perspective Our quarterly Energy Market Perspective contains an analysis of indicative capacity at REZ zones throughout the NEM.  The following assessment for NSW is from our latest edition. Request Energy Market Perspective call back The strategic development of Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) in New...

Announcement

Capacity Investment Scheme boosted from 6GW to 32GW

From Cornwall Insight Australia's Energy Market Alerts service Last Friday, the Commonwealth announced a major boost to the Capacity Investment Scheme, with the scheme now expected to deliver 32GW (combination of 9GW firming capacity and 23GW renewable generation) – up from 6GW. Cornwall Insight Australia has released an Energy Market...

Regulation and policy

Building back: Autumn Statement seeks to deliver investment confidence

On 22 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented the government’s Autumn Statement 2023. The Statement contained a variety of measures related to energy including: £600bn of planned public sector investment over the next five years to underpin future growth and support energy security, net zero, and public...

Energy Market Design

Energy market volatility remains evident amid a delicate geopolitical landscape

Recent events, from the worker strikes at the Chevron-owned Wheatstone LNG facility in Australia to the Israel-Hamas conflict, have highlighted the potential for disruption to energy exports. The Wheatstone and nearby Gorgon facilities account for ~5% of global LNG supplies. Whilst Europe is not the recipient of notable volumes of...

Announcement

What are Australia’s emissions reduction targets?

From Cornwall Insight Australia's Energy Market Alerts service Energy laws have now been amended to incorporate an emissions reduction objective alongside the other objectives. The list of targets that the market bodies will need to consider is listed in a separately published Targets Statement. The targets currently listed cover both...

Announcement

Energy prices tumble in October

From Cornwall Insight Australia’s NEM Market Analysis report With over 700 GWh of rooftop PV added to the NEM since October last year, records were again set in NEM minimum demands along with a high instantaneous renewable penetration within the grid of 71.4%. Once again, the month’s main story was...

Announcement

Emissions intensity drops for October 2023

From Cornwall Insight Australia’s NEM Market Analysis report This October saw a 12.6% reduction in total emissions (accounting for -1.18 Mt CO2-e reduction) as solar and wind generation has increased significantly. The reduction in emissions may continue with the arrival of Fly Creek and Rye Park wind farms expected soon...

Home supply and services

2023’s focus on consumer vulnerability

Looking back on this year, one of the key themes that can be drawn out of the regulatory action taken by Ofgem is the focus on protecting the most vulnerable consumers. Whilst this has always been a priority for the regulator, being weaved into its statutory duties and the licences...

E-mobility and low carbon

EV drivers passed peak prices when charging on-street 

In October, lamppost EV charging provider Ubitricity rolled out a new pricing structure, which included a higher p/kWh rate for peak times. In this blog, we will look at why Ubitricity has taken this step, and how other lamppost charge point operators are structuring their tariffs.   How and why has...

Announcement

Latest Marginal Loss Factor (MLF) forecasts

Cornwall Insight Australia recently launched our Marginal loss factor (MLF) curve subscription insight service. The MLF curve provides future projections of MLF throughout the NEM, allowing clients to be better informed of likely MLF trajectories for both current projects and be able to benchmark MLFs for projects under development. The...