Work

Counteracting the duck curve: Prosumage with time-varying import and export electricity tariffs

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Australia is a frontrunner in household solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption, which has helped to accelerate the energy transition but has changed demand such that the power system faces operational challenges, known as the solar 'duck curve'. The growing adoption of household batteries will change demand once again and policymakers have the means to reshape this demand through time-varying tariffs. This study evaluates the impact of time-varying import and export tariffs on household load profiles using data from 400 Melbourne households, each equipped with a 9 kWP PV and 12 kWh battery, and a dispatch optimisation model.Our findings indicate that time-varying export tariffs have significantly more influence on residual load profiles compared to time-varying import tariffs. With time-varying import tariffs only, households still maintain grid feed-in during the day and rely on self-consumption in the evening, exacerbating midday feed-in but preventing peak demand growth. We find that time-varying export tariffs alone reduce midday feed-in by 55.6% and extend exports past sunset. This actively counteracts the 'duck curve' by reducing midday feed-in, reducing ramp rates, and decreasing peak evening operational demand. This suggests that time-varying export tariffs may be a useful policy lever to enhance grid stability and renewable energy integration.

Source: Energy Policy

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114461

Authors: Lisa Restel, Kelvin Say

Institutions: The University of Melbourne, University of Cologne, Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne

Language: English

Topic: Smart Grid Energy Management

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650