Smart Value - case study Australia
The investment needs for Australia as a case study to transition to net zero are tremendous. Finding value throughout this market transition and maintaining returns requires the right partner
Australia is a big country with a rich landscape of opportunities and risks. Each state requires a different approach when it comes to technology design and optimisation.
Victoria
Businesses in Victoria have ridden the rollercoaster of energy pricing of late. The closure of Hazelwood in 2017 saw prices sky rocket and significant investment in renewables has brought prices back down, frequent storms in 2024 let to grid outages across the state. The large variety of networks across the smallest mainland NEM state means the value really depends on where you are.
Businesses should seek out time of use and demand tariffs to make sure they are stacking the most value for their flexibility.
Investors can look to unique opportunities in partnerships with industry to deliver long term return certainty.
Birdwood’s behind the meter installations have provided reliable critical power to customers in Victoria’s Yarra Valley which has constant grid outages each year.
South Australia
SA leads Australia in moving towards a renewable and distributed energy future. Right now there are amazing opportunities emerging around negative pricing.
During sunny temperate hours, energy users can be paid for using energy – just to soak up excess solar energy. These opportunities can be captured through emerging solar soaking tariffs but also by transitioning to more cost reflective pricing models. For investors, batteries are emerging as a great way to tap into higher evening prices while avoiding curtailment events.
NSW
With strong government support behind grid scale investment in both network and renewable assets, NSW is leading the way for Renewable Energy Zones. Energy prices tend to stabilise in NSW as it has the most interconnections with other states and plenty of flexible supply from Snowy.
Business’ in NSW are slower than the rest of the country in taking up behind the meter solar and storage but increasing network costs mean making your own energy can pay off quickly.
New transmission connected projects have been delayed due to planning and grid complications. However new energy generation is critical as coal fired power station retire service.
Birdwood has focused on delivering a large portfolio of PV-battery distribution assets which are quick to deploy and provide investors with enhanced investment returns.
Queensland
The diverse landscape of Queensland opens up opportunities to develop farms across the network. With the government owning much of the local asset base, the sunny state often relies on gas to provide flexibility.
New investments in storage could change that and support grid stability over time.