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Victoria’s electricity spot prices soar as state’s largest coal generator suffers outage Blackouts expected in Victoria as storm forces outage at state’s largest coal generator
(32 minutes later)
AGL says all four units of the 2,210 megawatt Loy Yang A are offline as spot power prices reach ceiling of $16,600 per MW-hourAGL says all four units of the 2,210 megawatt Loy Yang A are offline as spot power prices reach ceiling of $16,600 per MW-hour
Victoria’s power grid is enduring a “significant” power system event amid a heatwave and the state’s largest generator going offline, sending electricity prices soaring. Blackouts are expected in Victoria after a major transmission line was brought down by a storm, tripping a power station and sending spot electricity prices soaring.
The Australian Energy Market Operator said the event was the result of “multiple tripping of generation and transmission lines” in the Victorian region. The incident has resulted in 2,300 megawatts of generation halted, with more than 1,000MW of load interrupted. Load shedding is now under way in the state to help protect the system. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator, the maximum load to be disrupted would be 420 megawatts.
AGL Energy said all four units at its 2,210 megawatt coal-fired Loy Yang A were presently offline. “We are currently investigating the cause,” a spokesperson said. Guardian Australia understands there is damage to transmission towers near Anakie to Melbourne’s north-west. The lines failure prompted AGL Energy’s 2,210MW coal-fired power station to drop offline at 2.15pm, the company said.
The units went offline at 2.15pm AEDT, with the company expecting to provide an update within the hour. Aemo issued a market alert declaring a “significant” power system event because of “multiple tripping of generation and transmission lines” in the region.
Spot power prices were running at their ceiling level of $16,600 per MW-hour in both Victoria and Tasmania, with other states in the national electricity market recording negative prices on a relatively sunny and windy day in those regions. The failure has resulted in 2,300MW of generation being halted, with more than 1,000MW of load interrupted.
AGL Energy said all four units at its Loy Yang A plant in the La Trobe Valley were presently offline. “We are currently investigating the cause,” a spokesperson said.
Spot power prices were running at their ceiling level of $16,600 per MW-hour in Victoria and Tasmania, with other states in the national electricity market recording negative prices on a relatively sunny and windy day in those regions.
Significant power event in the south, with possible power plant and transmission line tripping. pic.twitter.com/V72AGspCkPSignificant power event in the south, with possible power plant and transmission line tripping. pic.twitter.com/V72AGspCkP
AEMO said they expected to have a clearer indication of the problems soon, with the possibility of both transmission and a power plant tripping. Aemo said it expected to have a clearer indication of the problems soon.
Temperatures in Victoria have soared to as high as 41.7C in Walpeup, while the mercury climbed to 36.7C in Melbourne before dropping back.Temperatures in Victoria have soared to as high as 41.7C in Walpeup, while the mercury climbed to 36.7C in Melbourne before dropping back.
@AEMO_Energy looking into the cause but there's both a drop in demand and a spike in prices: pic.twitter.com/VewR3ez0OU@AEMO_Energy looking into the cause but there's both a drop in demand and a spike in prices: pic.twitter.com/VewR3ez0OU
Dylan McConnell, an energy expert at the University of New South Wales, said significant incidents in the grid were “very infrequent”.Dylan McConnell, an energy expert at the University of New South Wales, said significant incidents in the grid were “very infrequent”.
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