Energy ministers greenlight ESEM consultation package, with maiden tender targeted for 2027
An update on the ESEM design process, following last Friday's energy ministers council meeting and the minutes of the industry-led working group.
Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS)
How the CIS differs from state-based underwriting schemes, and what the industry has suggested about it so far
We look at five design differences between the Capacity Investment Scheme and the state auction schemes that came before and alongside it — and the improvements we've heard suggested by industry and the Nelson Review panel.
Revisiting the CIS-awarded project pipeline, ahead of the ESOO 2026
A year on from our 4-part series about the CIS, we take an updated look at the 89 projects awarded across the scheme's five NEM tenders — comparing what proponents have actually announced compared to the status AEMO assigns them for ESOO reliability modelling.
Is the battery rollout following in solar’s footsteps — and is a battery correlation penalty looming?
This piece draws some parallels between the previous solar boom-bust cycle and the current battery buildout, and asks whether a 'battery correlation penalty' may already be taking shape.
Final Nelson Review report and ministerial communique released on Tuesday 16th December 2025
The final report of the Nelson Review has been released alongside a ministerial council communique, with ministers agreeing in principle to the review’s core recommendations, with the exception of Queensland.
Reflections from our presentation to the CEC this week: A stocktake on the CIS
Linton and I had the pleasure of speaking to the CEC on Wednesday, this short article shares a couple of slides from the presentation and a list of questions we're still pondering about the CIS.
Are CIS-ters doin’ it for themselves? Part 4: Policy lessons highlighted by the Nelson Review
In the final part of our four-part CIS series, we zoom out to examine what government-backed Contract-for-Difference schemes are really achieving — drawing on policy lessons from the Nelson Review.
Are CIS-ters doin’ it for themselves? Part 3: Treatment of curtailment risk
In part three in this series about the CIS, we look at how a curtailment provision — briefly included in drafts for Tender 1 but later removed — may raise questions about how revenue floor bids were priced.
Are CIS-ters doin’ it for themselves? Part 2: Understanding why there are delivery challenges
In part two of this four part series about the success of the CIS so far, we explore why delivery challenges may have emerged.
Are CIS-ters doin’ it for themselves? Part 1: Tracking the progress of CIS projects post-award
Recent debate has centred on the CIS’s success so far. In part one of this four-part series, we look at how projects have progressed since being awarded a contract.
Belatedly noting 16 winners announced (on Tuesday 16th September 2025) in Capacity Investment Scheme auctions
Coincident with last week's CEC's QCES in Brisbane, the Federal Government announced 16 winners for 'Tender 3' of the Capacity Investment Scheme.
To what extent does the Capacity Investment Scheme cover curtailment risk, and how to interpret its ‘force majeure’ terms?
An open question to our readers.
Stacking up: Unlocking multiple revenue streams in the NEM
Ben Nethersole from Baringa summarises the different contracting routes available for renewables and storage, and how project business cases are increasingly stacking these together.
Is the price right? A historical exploration into the NEM’s price cap
Dan dives into the history of the NEM’s market cap and explores how high-end prices contribute to regional settlement costs and cap payouts.
What is the real size of Australian corporate demand for Renewable Energy?
Tristan Edis from Green Energy Markets explores the current state of voluntary corporate demand for renewable energy, amid signs that LGC prices have fallen to near-historic lows.
Locations of last week’s CIS winners vs known areas of congestion
After a suggestion from a reader, Dan plots the locations of the 19 winning CIS projects announced last week against economic and network curtailment data.
Standalone solar and wind dominate list of 19 successful projects from latest CIS tender
Nineteen projects were announced as winners in the government's CIS announcement yesterday - including seven standalone solar farms and six standalone wind farms.
Further thoughts (part 2) about the design paper for the implementation of the proposed Capacity Incentive Scheme
Guest author, Ben Skinner, returns with the second instalment on his thoughts about the Design Paper for the Capacity Investment Scheme - with submissions due next Monday 25th March 2024.
Some thoughts (part 1) about the design paper for the implementation of the proposed Capacity Incentive Scheme
This is the first of a two part discussion on the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) Implementation Design Paper (The Paper) released on 1 March 2024. This part will cover its broad objectives and implications. The second part will discuss some details of its design that...
Consultation opens (and webinar next Friday) on Design Paper for ‘Capacity Investment Scheme’
On Thu 29th Feb 2024 (a day when NSW saw high demand, was stretched in terms of available capacity, and benefited from the electricity and other services provided by soon-to-close Eraring) the Dept of Energy in Canberra released a Design Paper on the expanded Capacity...