Research and Insights 2018

Reports and Working Papers

Does renewable electricity generation reduce electricity prices?

A report by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain, Dr Steven Percy, Dr Asli Kars, Adjunct Associate Professor Hugh Saddler and Farhad Billimoria • December 2018

In Australia the contribution of “base load” coal-fired electricity generation and variable renewable generation in explaining high wholesale and retail prices is actively discussed. But modelling commissioned by governments and interest groups is contested. In this context the VEPC has examined the relationship between renewable electricity generation and electricity prices, and has released its research report “Does renewable electricity reduce electricity prices?”.

Download the report (6mb) by clicking on the image (left).

Using electricity bills to shine a light on rooftop solar photovoltaics in Australia

A report by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain and Dr Asli Kars • November 2018

This report presents results from the analysis of electricity bills for households with and without rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV). For the purpose of this study, CHOICE provided the Victoria Energy Policy Centre (VEPC) with processed electricity bills for 10,051 households of which 2,062 have rooftop PV. In addition, we matched this processed bill data, by postcode, to socio-economic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and, by address, to publicly available house price data scraped from domain.com.au. The report presents various conclusions on the difference between solar homes and non-solar homes.

Download the report (1.7mb) by clicking on the image (left).

The National Energy Guarantee: decide in haste, repent at leisure: A critical assessment of the proposed National Energy Guarantee

A report by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain • July 2018

In October 2017, the Australian Government announced that it would not accept the recommendation of the Finkel Review to establish a Clean Energy Target. In its place, it proposed the National Energy Guarantee (NEG). The initial proposals were subsequently substantially revised in a “High Level Design” published in April 2018, followed by Issues Papers in May, Technical Working Papers in June and Final Design in July. This report examines the “High Level Design” and its subsequent elaborations. The two “arms” of the NEG – the Emissions Guarantee and the Reliability Guarantee – address very different issues, and each is examined separately.

Download the report (1.7mb) by clicking on the image (left).

Presentations, Webinars and Podcasts

Does renewable electricity generation reduce electricity prices?

Presentation by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain, Dr Steven Percy,  Dr Asli Kars, Adjunct Associate Professor Hugh Saddler and Farhad Billimoria

Launch of the VEPC research report 'Does renewable electricity generation reduce electricity prices?', Melbourne, 6 December 2018

This presentation covers the highlights of the VEPC's research into the impact of renewable energy generation on electricity prices.

Download the PowerPoint presentation (12.3mb) by clicking on the image to the right.

Victoria Energy Policy Centre Launch Address

Presentation by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain

Launch of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Melbourne, 13 June 2018

This presentation covers: about us, research priorities, retail markets, network regulation, wholesale and environmental markets, gas markets and the National Energy Guarantee.

Download the widescreen PowerPoint presentation (7.1mb) by clicking on the image to the right.

Some thoughts on capacity markets for electricity in Australia

Presentation by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain

Productivity Commission Seminar, Melbourne, 27 March 2018

This presentation covers: comment on the NEM and its outcomes so far, electricity market design theory (what is the problem?), taxonomy of resource adequacy approaches (what are the possible solutions?), the rise of batteries and implications for electricity market design, and comment on the National Energy Guarantee (NEG).

Download the PowerPoint presentation (10.4mb) by clicking on the image to the right.

The NEG: A grand plan or much ado about very little?

Presentation by VEPC Director, Associate Professor Bruce Mountain

Economic Society of Australia, Policy in the Pub, Melbourne, 16 May 2018

This presentation covers: the timeline of Australia’s emission reduction and renewable energy policy, a short history of the NEG, political and technology contexts, how it is meant to work, comparison of NEG with RET and CET, a summary of issues, and whereto from here?

Download the PowerPoint presentation (208kbs) by clicking on the image to the right.