tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/power-storage-17498/articlesPower storage – The Conversation2017-12-04T19:22:16Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/884802017-12-04T19:22:16Z2017-12-04T19:22:16ZYes, SA’s battery is a massive battery, but it can do much more besides<p>Last Friday, the “world’s largest” lithium-ion battery was <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/energy/history-in-the-making-tesla-switches-on-worlds-largest-battery-in-sa-20171130-gzwhah.html">officially opened</a> in South Australia. Tesla’s much anticipated “mega-battery” made the “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/10/elon-musk-i-can-fix-south-australia-power-network-in-100-days-or-its-free">100 days or it’s free</a>” deadline, after a week of testing and commissioning. </p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the project has attracted a lot of attention, both in Australia and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/australia/elon-musk-south-australia-battery.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=mini-moth&region=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below">abroad</a>. This is largely courtesy of the high profile Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, not to mention <a href="http://www.afr.com/technology/teslas-elon-musk-pledges-to-fix-sas-power-crisis-in-100-days-or-its-free-20170310-guvf1x">the series of Twitter exchanges that sparked off the project in the first place</a>. </p>
<p>Many are now watching on in anticipation to see what impact the battery has on the SA electricity market, and whether it could be a game-changer nationally. </p>
<h2>The Hornsdale Power Reserve</h2>
<p>The “mega battery” complex is officially called the Hornsdale Power Reserve. It sits alongside the <a href="https://hornsdalewindfarm.com.au">Hornsdale Wind Farm</a> and has been constructed in partnership with the SA government and <a href="https://www.neoen.com/en/">Neoen</a>, the French renewable energy company that owns the wind farm. </p>
<p>The battery has a total generation capacity of 100 megawatts, and 129 megawatt-hours of energy storage. This has been decribed as “<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/energy/history-in-the-making-tesla-switches-on-worlds-largest-battery-in-sa-20171130-gzwhah.html">capable of powering 50,000 homes</a>”, providing <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/inventions/everything-you-need-to-know-about-teslas-battery-in-south-australia/news-story/a989f74cfccb8a1211de83f5becc60ed">1 hour and 18 minutes of storage</a> or, more controversially, <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/sa-battery-threat-to-100m-project/news-story/212c1d30c5387f5baa4d46feadfad8d1">2.5 minutes of storage</a>. </p>
<p>At first blush, some of these numbers might sound reasonable. But they don’t actually reflect a major role the battery will play, nor the physical capability of the battery itself. </p>
<h2>What can the battery do?</h2>
<p>The battery complex can be thought of as two systems. First there is a component with 70MW of output capacity that has been contracted to the SA government. This is <a href="http://reneweconomy.com.au/explainer-what-the-tesla-big-battery-can-and-cannot-do-42387/">reported</a> to provide grid stability and system security, and designed only to have about 10 minutes of storage.</p>
<p>The second part could be thought of as having 30MW of output capacity, but 3-4 hours of storage. Even though this component has a smaller capacity (MW), it has much more storage (MWh) and can provide energy for much longer. This component will participate in the competitive part of the market, and should firm up the wind power produced by the wind farm. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/australias-electricity-market-is-not-agile-and-innovative-enough-to-keep-up-72870">Australia's electricity market is not agile and innovative enough to keep up</a>
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<p>In addition, the incredible flexibility of the battery means that it is well suited to participate in the Frequency Control Ancillary Service market. More on that below.</p>
<p>The figure below illustrates just how flexible the battery actually is. In the space of four seconds, the battery is capable of going from zero to 30MW (and vice versa). In fact it is likely much faster than that (at the millisecond scale), but the data available is only at 4-second resolution. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=375&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=375&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=375&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/197518/original/file-20171204-5392-o6p7jv.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Hornsdale Power Reserve demonstrating its flexibility last week. The output increased from zero to 30MW (full output) in less than 4 seconds.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided (data from AEMO)</span></span>
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<h2>Frequency Control and Ancillary Service Market</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.aemo.com.au/Electricity/National-Electricity-Market-NEM/Security-and-reliability/Ancillary-services">Frequency Control and Ancillary Service</a> (FCAS) market is less known and understood than the energy market. In fact it is wrong to talk of a single FCAS market – there are actually eight distinct markets. </p>
<p>The role of these markets is essentially twofold. First, they provide contingency reserves in case of a major disturbance, such as <a href="http://reneweconomy.com.au/another-coal-unit-falls-over-leaving-victoria-power-supply-at-risk-10440/">a large coal generation unit tripping off</a>. The services provide a rapid response to a sudden fall (or rise) in grid frequency. </p>
<p>At the moment, these contingency services operate on three different timescales: 6 seconds, 60 seconds, and 5 minutes. Generators that offer these services must be able to raise (or reduce) their output to respond to an incident within these time frames. </p>
<p>The Hornsdale Power Reserve is more than capable of participating in these six markets (raising and lowering services for the three time intervals shown in the illustration above). </p>
<p>The final two markets are known as regulation services (again, as both a raise and lower). For this service, the Australian energy market operator (AEMO) issues dispatch instructions on a fine timescale (4 seconds) to “regulate” the frequency and keep supply and demand in balance. </p>
<h2>The future: fast frequency response?</h2>
<p>Large synchronous generators (such as coal plants) have traditionally provided frequency control, (through the FCAS markets), and another service, inertia - essentially for free. As these power plants leave the system, there maybe a need for another service to maintain power system security.</p>
<p>One such service is so-called “<a href="https://www.aemo.com.au/Electricity/National-Electricity-Market-NEM/Security-and-reliability/FPSSP-Reports-and-Analysis">fast frequency response</a>” (FFR). While not a a direct replacement, it can reduce the need for physical inertia. This is conceptually similar to the contingency services described above, but might occur at the timescale of tens to hundreds of milliseconds, rather than 6 seconds.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/baffled-by-baseload-dumbfounded-by-dispatchables-heres-a-glossary-of-the-energy-debate-84212">Baffled by baseload? Dumbfounded by dispatchables?
Here's a glossary of the energy debate</a>
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<p>The Australian Energy Market Commission is currently going through the process of potentially <a href="http://www.aemc.gov.au/News-Center/What-s-New/Announcements/DELIVERING-A-MORE-STABLE-POWER-SYSTEM-TO-KEEP-THE">introducing a fast frequency response market</a>. In the meantime, obligations on transmission companies are expected to ensure a minimum amount of inertia or similar services (such as fast frequency response). </p>
<p>I suspect that the 70MW portion of the new Tesla battery is designed to provide exactly this fast frequency response.</p>
<h2>Size matters but role matters more</h2>
<p>The South Australian battery is truly a historic moment for both South Australia, and for Australia’s future energy security. </p>
<p>While the size, of the battery might be decried as being small in the context of the National Energy Market, it is important to remember its capabilities and role. It may well be a game changer, by delivering services not previously provided by wind and solar PV.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88480/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Dylan McConnell has received funding from the AEMC's Consumer Advocacy Panel and Energy Consumers Australia.</span></em></p>Last week in SA the “world’s largest” lithium ion battery was launched. Will its storage capacity and versatility be a game-changer for Australia’s energy market?Dylan McConnell, Researcher at the Australian German Climate and Energy College, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/753252017-03-28T11:08:35Z2017-03-28T11:08:35ZAn algorithm to improve the renewable energy production<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/162914/original/image-20170328-30784-1ftwtkg.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">To manage renewable energy efficiently, all weather variation need to be taken into account.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/leppre/28235902876/in/photolist-dfF9rU-dfF5zx-dfF3HB-dfEYjK-8LDmuz-EBcwG-dfF9FE-8tdSyd-dfF2wB-dfF2WZ-edKaVi-2VpUKa-edKcqF-dfF8oW-edKbVi-dfF4tx-edQR5u-dfF8NW-8VvKjB-hMfhn-8tdTAb-7Bf8A-acDAqM-8tdSGb-5QmDU3-qjrgq-8tdRGJ-8tdRQY-acDF2v-keQ8D-8taTBr-8tdS51-8taR4H-aqyAwC-7WmGqU-8tdRXQ-3a2E6p-8tkNsc-8taRkp-8taRrx-8taRig-8tdSRN-acGtDf-JEP7ss-K27ocE-8tdRnu-8tdRsu-8taT9F-8taTgX-4rFh4G">Greg Clarke/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Relying less on fossil fuels and more on renewable energy is one of the key challenges of energy transition. Large quantities of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are extracted and transformed into energy (to be used as motor fuel or for heating, for example). The steadily increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing a rise in global temperatures that could have disastrous effects.</p>
<p>The trouble is, renewable energy sources are not as predictable or stable as diesel or nuclear power.</p>
<p>For example, how many solar panels does it take to meet a given demand for electricity? Researchers from ENSTA ParisTech and ENSIIE have found the answer. They have optimized the design of a stand-alone hybrid energy system – stand-alone meaning not connected to the public electricity grid – composed of wind turbines, solar panels and batteries. Such a system must be able to meet the demand for electricity while minimizing costs, including the cost of the diesel generator that provides backup power if the other energy sources fall short.</p>
<h2>How the system works</h2>
<p>When weather conditions are favorable, the wind turbines and solar panels are enough to meet demand and the excess energy is stored in batteries. These batteries are only used if the demand exceeds what the wind turbines and solar panels can supply.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, battery operation results in energy loss; not all the kilowatt-hours stored can be used. As the system is off-grid, a diesel generator is used to satisfy demand once the batteries are empty. But this is expensive – the cost per kilowatt-hour of generator usage is higher than that of a wind turbine.</p>
<p>A few types of wind turbine, solar panel and batteries were preselected by electricity specialists. The type and quantity of each component has to be optimally determined to meet a given demand while minimizing the total cost, which includes the cost of investment (land rental and the purchase and installation of the components) and the operating costs (maintenance and diesel).</p>
<h2>Taking weather variations into account</h2>
<p>This is a complex problem, since uncertainties about demand and production mean that many scenarios are possible. The system must be robust, which means “good enough” whichever scenario plays out. The model has to take into account variations in weather conditions over the year (which was divided into 8,760 periods of one hour). Fortunately, the total variation is limited because the uncertain data can only vary between given bounds.</p>
<p>First, the researchers designed the optimal system without uncertainties. At this stage, the problem is easy to solve because it has only three integer variables (the number of wind turbines, solar panels and batteries), or nine if different types of materials can be used.</p>
<p>When uncertainties are taken into account, the problem gets a whole lot trickier. To cope with this complexity, the researchers developed a model with two levels. The first corresponds to sizing, or the number of components to be installed. The second, called the “recourse problem”, seeks to optimize the system’s performance if the worst-case scenario should occur for the system selected at the first level. The researchers had to deal with more than 40,000 variables (including 8,000 integer variables) and 50,000 constraints.</p>
<h2>A custom algorithm</h2>
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<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=537&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/142510/original/image-20161020-8869-1hqhjkw.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=675&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">French energy mix, 2013.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://www.senat.fr/rap/l14-263-1/l14-263-119.html">Commission des affaires économiques du Sénat.</a></span>
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<p>The scientists developed an algorithm combining branch-and-bound methods with dynamic programming, and which solves the recourse problem much faster than standard algorithms in most cases. They tested it with real data from three locations with different climates: Montana, USA, with a continental climate; an island in the Philippines with a tropical climate; and Dunkirk, France, with an oceanic climate.</p>
<p>In these real cases, the demand and the reference values for wind and solar production are average values over several years for each time period. The scenarios are limited variations around these values. The results show that if the system is capable of meeting demand at certain critical periods (critical in terms of demand or production), it can also cover any other period.</p>
<p>In Dunkirk, the algorithm showed that seven solar panels, 24 wind turbines and 384 batteries could ensure sufficient production capacity all year round. This problem was quick to solve (160 steps) because the climate is much more stable than in the Philippines (6,000 steps required). For the small island in the Philippines, the optimal system consists of 10 solar panels, 67 wind turbines and 105 batteries, for an annual cost of 31,000 euros.</p>
<p>Note that the budget corresponds to the worst-case scenario. The real cost will fall somewhere between this budget and an easily calculated minimum cost reflecting the ideal climate conditions for the system.</p>
<p>This type of stand-alone hybrid energy system is particularly useful on islands or in remote areas. But the algorithm can also be applied to other similar problems, such as inventory management problems.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/75325/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Pierre-Louis Poirion has received support from the Jacques Hadamard Foundation as part of the Gaspard Monge program for operational optimisation and research.</span></em></p>Relying less on fossil fuels is one of the key challenges of energy transition, and taking weather variations into account can help increase the overall efficiency of a renewable-energy system.Pierre-Louis Poirion, Postdoctorant en recherche opérationnelle et optimisation combinatoire, ENSTA Paris-Tech – Université Paris-SaclayLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/608472016-06-14T23:37:48Z2016-06-14T23:37:48Z22 ways to cut your energy bills (before spending on solar panels)<p>Winter is here! Despite many Australians opting not to heat their homes to the point of complete comfort, many of us nevertheless will soon receive a nasty surprise when the energy bills arrive.</p>
<p>With Australia’s historically cheap energy, old housing stock in many areas, mild climate and frequent emphasis on low building costs, many homes are little more than “<a href="http://www.theage.com.au/comment/australian-houses-are-just-glorified-tents-in-winter-20150608-ghj2ox.html">glorified tents</a>” when it comes to thermal performance. </p>
<p>Besides wanting smaller bills, many residents also want to improve comfort, <a href="http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/arts-and-letters/how-to-wipe-out-household-energy-bills-in-9-steps/76854">lessen their environmental impact</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/energy-star-ratings-for-homes-good-idea-but-it-needs-some-real-estate-flair-54056">boost their home’s value</a>.</p>
<p>So here is a list of 22 things you can do to improve your home’s energy performance – some cheap, some free, and some that can even make you some money up-front as well as cutting your bills. Of course, to reach the ultimate goal of a home <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/news/welcome-to-victorias-most-sustainable-community-the-cape-at-cape-paterson-20151218-glno5i/">heated and powered by 100% renewable electricity</a> you may still wish to put some solar panels on your roof, but why not consider the following actions first?</p>
<p><strong>1. Make sure you get the <a href="https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/">maximum discount</a></strong> on your energy bills. Although not available everywhere, in Victoria discounts of up to 38% are available on gas or electricity. Ring up your retailer and just ask, or threaten to switch, or better yet seek out a retailer that doesn’t treat their discounts like <a href="http://www.powershop.com.au/toolkit/">state secrets</a>.</p>
<p><strong>2. Monitor your power usage</strong> with the help of a <a href="http://www.smartmeters.vic.gov.au/interactive-devices">“smart” electricity meter or in-home electricity display</a>. This real-time (or near-real-time) information is more useful than the coarse monthly data commonly printed on energy bills. It can help identify appliances that have inadvertently been left on or those that draw excessive power when not in use.</p>
<p><strong>3. Heat your water off-peak</strong>. If you have a resistive-electric hot water storage tank, make sure it heats up at night, when off-peak power rates apply. In some areas, “<a href="http://switchon.vic.gov.au/bills-pricing-and-meters/flexible-pricing">time of use</a>” rates are available.</p>
<p><strong>4. Get rid of your ‘garage fridge’</strong>. It can cost hundreds of dollars a year to run an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/11/26/why-its-not-okay-to-have-a-second-refrigerator/">inefficient 20-year-old fridge</a>, especially if it’s in a garage that hits 50°C in summer.</p>
<p><strong>5. Ditch your super-hot plasma</strong>. If you have a <a href="http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energy-efficiency/at-home/appliances/tvs-and-home-entertainment-systems">10-year-old television</a> that gets so hot you can fry an egg on the screen, check out the newer models that can use <a href="http://reg.energyrating.gov.au/comparator/product_types/32/search/">one-tenth of the electricity</a>.</p>
<p><strong>6. Install a modern showerhead</strong>, such as those designed with <a href="http://pure-electric.com.au/products/methven-kiri-satinjet-ultra-low-flow-4.5-litre">double-impinging jet technology</a> that use only 5 litres of water per minute. Old showerheads can pass up to 35 litres per minute. Why not grab a bucket and stopwatch and test yours?</p>
<p><strong>7. Insulate any exposed hot water pipes</strong>, including the <a href="http://www.valvecosy.com.au/">pressure-relief valve on your hot water tank</a>. Make sure hot water pipes do not <a href="http://mei.insights4.net.au/switching-gas-report-available-here">run uninsulated straight into the soil</a> in your garden. <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/homeenergyefficiencyresource/home/hot-water-cylinder-work/increase-insulation-of-existing-hot-water-cylinder">Insulate electrically heated storage tanks</a> where it is safe to do so.</p>
<p><strong>8. Check your heaters and air conditioning</strong>. Gas heating systems should be checked at least every two years by a qualified person, not least to keep <a href="http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/For-Consumers/Gas-and-electrical-safety-in-the-home/Gas-safety-in-the-home/Heating-your-home-safely-with-gas">poisonous carbon monoxide gas</a> at bay. All heating or cooling system filters should be cleaned regularly to improve energy efficiency and air quality.</p>
<p><strong>9. Inspect your ducts</strong>. Poorly installed or degraded ductwork can lead to big energy losses, which can go unnoticed for decades. Ensure that small children or animals have not gone under your house and damaged your gas heating ducts. Check also that air returns are properly “boxed-in” and do not draw air in from the wall cavity instead of from the living space. However, cleaning the inside of your ducts is not critical for energy saving, and risks damaging them in the process.</p>
<p><strong>10. <a href="http://passivehouse.com.au/page/blower-door-testing">Banish drafts</a></strong>, for instance by plastering over those ubiquitous <a href="http://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/files/f66b552b-d808-43b8-b55c-a41e00e00c4e/Blocking-Draughts-FAQ.pdf">wall vents</a> – relics from the days when homes relied on unflued heaters or gas lights. Seal off unused chimneys and fill any other cracks, gaps or holes around <a href="http://ecomasterstore.com.au/products/draughtdodgers-for-doors">doors</a>, windows, skirting boards, floorboards and architraves. Remember to close air-conditioning ceiling vents in winter. Ventilation should be controlled by opening windows, not by having permanent holes in the walls.</p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126475/original/image-20160614-29222-124i05b.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Older houses can be full of drafts, including from wall vents which are a throwback to times when homes were full of indoor pollution.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Bidgee/Wikimedia Commons</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong>11. <a href="http://efficiencymatrix.com.au/our-videos/">Eliminate ceiling-mounted downlights</a></strong> wherever possible. A small number of modern wide-beam LEDs can adequately replace a larger quantity of narrow-beam halogen downlights. Aim to have as few holes cut into your ceiling as possible, because these holes let heat escape in winter and let it in during summer.</p>
<p><strong>12. Install <a href="https://shop.ata.org.au/shop/led-downlight-insulating-cover">downlight covers</a></strong> over all downlights that protrude into accessible attic spaces. Not only does this reduce <a href="http://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=709">fire hazards</a> and keep out insects, but it will also reduce air flow through the roof.</p>
<p><strong>13. Replace all regularly used lights with LEDs</strong>. LEDs use a tenth of the energy of halogen or incandescent bulbs, so will pay for themselves in just a few months (even less in places where <a href="http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/households/energy-efficiency/toolbox/how-to/replace-12-volt-halogen-downlights">free replacement</a> is on offer). Replace less regularly used bulbs with LEDs as and when they burn out, and vow never to buy a non-LED bulb again.</p>
<p><strong>14. Insulate your attic…</strong>. If you don’t have roof insulation, buy some. If you do, check it meets the recommended “<a href="http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/insulation">R value</a>” for your climate. Ensure all vertical attic surfaces (walls, skylight tunnels) are also insulated, and include a <a href="http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/innovation/building-construction/insulation-how-to-make-the-right-decision/72343">layer of aluminium</a> in your attic space. <a href="http://www.ata.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Thermal-Imaging-Presentation.pdf">Thermal imaging</a> can be used to identify existing flaws, such as gaps or sections of insulation inadvertently moved by tradespeople working in the attic. </p>
<p><strong>15. …and your floors and walls too</strong>. In cooler Australian climate zones, <a href="http://www.ecomaster.com.au/what-is-underfloor-insulation/">floor</a> and wall insulation can help keep heat in, making your home warmer and cheaper to operate.</p>
<p><strong>16. Cover your windows from the inside…</strong> with drapes, curtains or blinds. This will keep in heat at night and on cold winter days, and keep out the sun in summer. Cheaper or do-it-yourself thermal window treatments such as plastic films or even bubble wrap can be applied in some situations (just don’t expect to win any design awards).</p>
<p><strong>17. …and the outside</strong>. Trees, plants, external awnings, blinds or shade sails can all keep out the summer sun and stop windows getting hot. Remember that <a href="http://www.ata.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Thermal-Imaging-Presentation.pdf">significant heat will reflect</a> onto windows from sizzling decks, paved areas and walls (but not lawns). It’s better to keep out the sun in the first place rather than try to cool your house down.</p>
<p><strong>18. Double glazing</strong> for windows cuts out noise, improves security and <a href="https://www.ata.org.au/news/atas-new-green-home-heating-e-book">saves energy too</a>. For many Australian climate zones, I recommend that homeowners never buy a window in future that isn’t double-glazed. <a href="http://www.diydoubleglaze.com.au/ATA.pdf">Retrofit options</a> options such as “secondary glazing” are also available.</p>
<p><strong>19. Fit a pool cover</strong> if you have a swimming pool. Not only will this stop the water cooling down overnight in summer, but a cover can also minimise cleaning, chemical use and the running time for your filter pump. Consider upgrading to a <a href="http://www.energyrating.gov.au/products/swimming-pool-pumps">more efficient pump</a> if yours is more than a decade old, and ensure it does not run for more hours each day than required.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/126477/original/image-20160614-17209-1doru8y.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Remember to cover up when not sunbathing.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABackyard_swimming_pool_in_Queensland.JPG">Kgbo/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong>20. Use reverse-cycle to heat your home…</strong>. If your home has <a href="https://theconversation.com/hot-summer-nights-and-cold-winter-evenings-how-to-be-comfortable-and-save-money-all-year-long-51046">reverse-cycle air conditioning (also known as a heat pump)</a>, this may be the cheapest way to heat, especially as <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-cold-in-my-house-and-the-price-of-gas-is-going-up-what-can-i-do-44824">gas prices rise</a>. On heat mode, reverse-cycle units harvest <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-cheapest-way-to-heat-your-home-with-renewable-energy-just-flick-a-switch-47087">free renewable ambient heat from the air outside your home</a> and pump it up to the toasty temperature you need inside. Having installed high-efficiency reverse-cycle units, I can heat my own home for <a href="http://renew.org.au/articles/comfortably-ahead-a-tale-of-two-heaters/">one-third of the cost</a> of ducted gas heating.</p>
<p><strong>21. …and your water</strong>. If your hot water system is nearing its use-by date, consider replacing it with a heat pump. This is an especially good option for homes that already have <a href="https://theconversation.com/get-more-out-of-your-solar-power-system-by-using-water-as-a-battery-37807">solar panels and low feed-in tariffs</a>.</p>
<p><strong>22. If you can <a href="http://energyfreedom.com.au/">eliminate all gas use</a></strong> in your home (for <a href="http://mei.insights4.net.au/switching-gas-report-available-here">space heating, water heating and cooking</a>), you can eliminate your gas bill with its nearly A$1 per day fixed supply charges.</p>
<h2>And then there is solar…</h2>
<p>In Australia these days, you won’t be paid much money for selling your electricity back to the grid. However, it might still pay to install solar if you can <a href="http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/solars-inconvenient-truth-its-all-about-self-consumption-19817">consume most of the energy yourself</a>, by running your pool pumps, appliances, space heating and cooling devices, hot water system and even an electric car with solar electricity harvested during the day. </p>
<p>In future, as <a href="https://www.ata.org.au/news/grid-connected-batteries-economically-attractive-by-2020-ata-report">electricity storage batteries get cheaper</a>, there may be even more economic reasons to have solar panels on your roof.</p>
<p>This article doesn’t list every possible <a href="http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/politics/local-government/how-gamification-is-saving-brisbane-renters-thousands-on-energy-bills/82684">behavioural trick</a> or <a href="http://www.yourhome.gov.au/">home improvement</a>. Sadly, some homes will never be fantastic energy performers without significant modification. But hopefully there are a few things on this list that will work for you – even if it’s only a case of finally covering that drafty doorstep, or giving your creaking “beer fridge” a dignified retirement.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/60847/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>In addition to his role at the University of Melbourne, Tim has conducted over 400 home energy assessments/consultations working or volunteering with organisations such as the not-for-profit Moreland Energy Foundation - Positive Charge.</span></em></p>There are loads of things you can do to cut your energy bills - and many don’t involve stumping up any cash up-front at all.Tim Forcey, Energy Advisor, Melbourne Energy Institute, The University of MelbourneLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/417652016-02-15T19:20:47Z2016-02-15T19:20:47ZWhy you should stay on the grid, even with your solar-powered batteries<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/109619/original/image-20160129-27351-wixd6h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">There's a good reason to connected to the electricity distribution network.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/indigoskies/6901753722/">Flickr/Indigo Skies Photography </a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Anything that can help cut our electricity bill is to be welcomed, and Tesla’s solar rechargeable batteries, now <a href="http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/01/australias-first-powerwall-home-batteries-are-already-installed-in-western-sydney/">available in Australia</a>, are just the latest option.</p>
<p>Many Australian households have already installed <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/solar-power">solar photovoltaic</a> (PV) panels to generate their own electricity, even selling some back into the grid. Now they will have the extra option of storing any electricity they generate to use whenever they like.</p>
<p>But the idea of becoming self-sustaining and coming off the grid altogether is not the way to go if we are to have a system that doesn’t create winners and losers.</p>
<h2>The cost of incentives</h2>
<p>For any reform to electricity pricing be effective, it must have positive effects on electricity price cost components such as generation, transmission and distribution.</p>
<p>But recent decisions by governments have not considered the interests of the entire customer base. For instance, power generated from solar PV is usually fed to the grid during the day, when wholesale electricity pricing is low, instead of evening peak periods when demand is high in residential areas.</p>
<p>Early adopters of solar are not complaining, though, as they received generous federal government <a href="http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/RET/Scheme-participants-and-industry/Agents-and-installers/Small-scale-technology-certificates">installation incentives</a> and state government legislation protecting their Feed-in Tariffs (FIT). These can be double the present peak tariff rate regardless of the time of day power is returned (in Queensland the solar bonus scheme <a href="https://www.dews.qld.gov.au/electricity/solar/installing/benefits/solar-bonus-scheme">44c/kW FIT</a> legislated to 2028).</p>
<p>When this legislation was put in place, governments were concerned predominately with reducing carbon emissions. They did not consider the impact these schemes would have on long-term electricity prices for all consumers.</p>
<p>Government-owned electricity distribution businesses across Australia had to absorb the cost of the generous FIT enjoyed by some customers. They transferred this cost back into the off-peak, peak and fixed cost components of all customer electricity accounts.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/822-sundown-sunrise4.pdf">biggest losers</a> of this were customers who had no opportunity to take up those incentives such as renters, unit owners and low-income households. </p>
<h2>A broken system</h2>
<p>The traditional market arrangement is already broken. The distributed generation of electricity by solar, wind and other alternatives and storage, such as home batteries, are being manufactured on a scale that will accelerate their market penetration.</p>
<p>As a society we don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the solar PV incentive schemes that created winners and losers.</p>
<p>So any policy that motivates a significant proportion of the population to go off-grid would have a catastrophic impact on the electricity industry. Prices would need to rise for those still on the grid as the largely fixed electricity distribution cost burden would be carried by fewer customers. </p>
<p>At the moment, the electrical power industry operates within what’s termed a Just-in-Time (JIT) framework. That means there is no electricity stored so it must generate what it needs to meet the demand at the time. It is reliant on variable customer demands and other factors such as the weather.</p>
<p>But if there was adequate storage in the grid from homes with batteries, engineers could design grids and power plants for a relatively consistent base load power generation. This would result in a much lower average wholesale electricity price. </p>
<p>Researchers are working on intelligent energy storage management systems. These will enable communications between the grid transformers and any energy storage, such as home batteries, for the timely release of stored power to the grid.</p>
<p>Similar ideas are already being talked about by <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/household-batteries-flick-the-switch-for-a-smart-electricity-grid/news-story/0a6d399c8c69395e9e2eb8e3ce7ed220">others in the battery storage industry</a> and were presented at a <a href="http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/solar_supercharge">conference on clean energy</a> in Brisbane this week.</p>
<p>Any renewable energy policy should be refined to only give incentives to renewables that are coupled with energy storage. This will stimulate the energy storage industry and lower the price across almost all electricity cost components by flattening the electricity demand curve.</p>
<h2>A smart part of the network</h2>
<p>So a combined solar PV and battery storage system should not get people thinking they can survive off the grid. Instead, they should be thinking about how they can be part of an intelligent electricity network that deliveries efficiencies for all.</p>
<p>Intelligent metering combined with a rethink on electricity tariff arrangements, such as time-of-day pricing and peak pricing, would enable a truly efficient cost-reflective pricing regime to take hold in Australia. </p>
<p>Any benefits from a smart grid arrangement would require all customers to be on board. It would also require all levels of government to be bold enough to carry the burden of one of Australia’s most significant reform agendas. </p>
<p>Widespread intelligent metering and regulatory change in the power industry can reduce the price of electricity in the short term. In the medium term, energy storage is the missing link for further driving down pricing for all Australians.</p>
<h2>A not-so-smart network?</h2>
<p>But what if there is no intelligent metering to make use of any increased take up in battery storage systems, and people still opted out of the grid?</p>
<p>In this scenario, state governments could legislate that a significant fixed cost must be carried by any off-grid customer if an existing electricity supply runs past their premises.</p>
<p>Such legislation is not uncommon for utility services. Councils have for years charged customers the full cost for “available” sewerage services even when the premises has its own off-grid septic wastewater system.</p>
<p>So going off grid may not be the smartest move in delivering any savings to a household’s electricity bill.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/41765/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Rodney Stewart receives funding from Queensland Government for a project related to intelligent electricity networks.</span></em></p>If you’re worried about rising electricity prices, then going off-grid sounds attractive. But why not create an intelligent network of solar-powerd batteries that can reduce prices for all?Rodney Stewart, Professor, Griffith School of Engineering , Griffith UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/413582015-06-02T20:03:40Z2015-06-02T20:03:40ZThe battery revolution is exciting, but remember they pollute too<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/83334/original/image-20150529-12380-1twwe1l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=4%2C150%2C1592%2C902&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Batteries can cut carbon emissions, but mining the metals and other resources needed to make them can be a dirty business.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Jon Seb Barber/Wikimedia Commons</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-winners-and-losers-in-teslas-battery-plan-for-the-home-41151">unveiling</a> by Tesla founder Elon Musk of the low-cost <a href="http://www.teslamotors.com/powerwall">Powerwall</a> storage battery is the latest in a series of exciting advances in battery technologies for electric cars and domestic electricity generation. </p>
<p>We have also seen the development of an <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/new-inexpensive-aluminum-ion-battery-set-to-outlast-competitors/article23829686/">aluminium-ion battery</a> that may be safer, lighter and cheaper than the lithium-ion batteries used by Tesla and most other auto and technology companies. </p>
<p>These advances are exciting for two main reasons. First, the cost of energy storage, in the form of batteries, is <a href="https://theconversation.com/battery-costs-drop-even-faster-as-electric-car-sales-continue-to-rise-39780">decreasing significantly</a>. This makes electric vehicle ownership and home energy storage much more attainable. </p>
<p>The second, related reason is that these cheaper green technologies may make the transition to a greener economy <a href="https://theconversation.com/affordable-batteries-for-green-energy-are-closer-than-we-think-28772">easier and faster</a> than we have so far imagined (although, as has been <a href="https://theconversation.com/energy-storage-is-crucial-but-its-not-the-only-piece-in-the-puzzle-41226">recently pointed out on The Conversation</a>, these technologies are only one piece of the overall energy puzzle). </p>
<h2>Beware the industrial option</h2>
<p>These technological advances, and much of the excitement around them, lend themselves to the idea that solving environmental problems such as climate change is primarily a case of technological adjustment. But this approach encourages a strategy of “superindustrialisation”, in which technology and industry are brought to bear to resolve climate change, through resource efficiency, waste reduction and pollution control. In this context, the green economy is presented as an inevitable green technological <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/27077390@N00/4443967070/">economic wave</a>. </p>
<p>But the prospect of this green economic wave needs to be considered within a wider environmental and social context, which makes solving the problems much more complex. Let’s take electric vehicles as an example. </p>
<p>The ecological damage of cars, electric or otherwise, is partly due to the fact that the car industry generates more than 3 million tonnes of <a href="https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/greening-the-car-industry?___website=uk_warehouse">scrap and waste</a> every year. In 2009, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/jan/06/us-cars-sales-record-low">14 million cars</a> were scrapped in the United States alone. </p>
<p>The number of cars operating in the world is expected to climb from the <a href="http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2010213">current 896 million to 1.2 billion</a> by 2020. The infrastructure associated with growing vehicle use, particularly roads, also makes a significant contribution to the destruction of ecosystems and arguably has important social costs.</p>
<p>Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a substantial greenhouse gas emission improvement from the internal combustion engine. However, this improvement depends on green electricity production. </p>
<p>An EV powered by average European electricity production is likely to reduce a vehicle’s global warming potential by <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00532.x/full">about 20%</a> over its life cycle. This is not insignificant, but it is nowhere near a zero-emission option. </p>
<p>In large part, the life-cycle emissions of an electric vehicle are due to the energy-intensive nature of battery production and the associated mining processes. Indeed, there are questions around battery production and resource depletion, but perhaps more concerning is the impact that mining lithium and other materials for the growing battery economy, such as <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-03-14/teslas-in-california-help-bring-dirty-rain-to-china">graphite</a>, will have on the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261911008580">health of workers and communities</a> involved in this global production network. </p>
<p>Processes associated with lithium batteries may produce adverse respiratory, pulmonary and neurological <a href="http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-01/documents/lithium_batteries_lca.pdf">health impacts</a>. Pollution from graphite mining in China has resulted in reports of “<a href="http://www.miningweekly.com/article/chinese-flake-graphite-consolidation-could-alter-global-supply-structure-2014-04-17">graphite rain</a>”, which is significantly impacting local air and water quality. </p>
<p>The production of green technologies creates many interesting contradictions between environmental benefits at the point of use, versus human and environmental costs at the production end. Baoding, a Chinese city southwest of Beijing, has been labelled the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/baoding-greenest-carbon-positive-city-in-the-world-2011-6">greenest city in the world</a> or the world’s only carbon-positive city. This is because Boading produces enormous quantities of wind turbines and solar cells for the United States and Europe, and has about 170 alternative energy companies based there. </p>
<p>But last year the air in the city of Baoding was <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/02/02/say-hello-to-chinas-new-most-polluted-city-baoding/">declared</a> to be the most polluted in China – a country where air quality <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324010704578418343148947824">reportedly contributes to 1.2 million deaths each year</a>. These impacts need to be placed into any discussion or policy frameworks when exploring the shift to a “greener” future.</p>
<h2>Beware new problems from new solutions</h2>
<p>We should be excited about the shift to greener cars and affordable home electricity storage units, but in the process of starting to solve the technological challenges of climate change we must ensure that we are not creating environmental problems, particularly for the largely unseen workers and communities further up the production stream. </p>
<p>Our response to climate change needs to be more than just a technological adjustment. <a href="http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201409256996/research/green-jobs-sustainable-future">We argue</a> that the shift to a green economy requires more transformative social political actions via skills and training, worker participation, and the coming together of environmental organisations, unions, business and government. </p>
<p>Indeed, the world of work is a critical site for emission reductions: 80% of Europe’s carbon emissions are <a href="http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@dcomm/@publ/documents/publication/wcms_168163.pdf">workplace-related</a>. </p>
<p>As we adopt emerging greener technologies, we will have to look beyond our shiny new Powerwall, or the electric car parked on the front drive, to ensure that the environmental and social changes promised by green technologies are not just illusions.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/41358/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Caleb Goods receives funding from York University and the Canadian Government.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Carla Lipsig-Mumme receives research funding for the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).</span></em></p>The advent of battery storage heralds an even deeper embrace of electric cars and renewable energy. But amid the green tech revolution, we should be wary of creating new pollution problems.Caleb Goods, Postdoctoral research fellow, York University, CanadaCarla Lipsig-Mummé, Professor of Work and Labour Studies, York University, CanadaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.