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Blackouts expected in Victoria as storm forces outage at state’s largest coal generator Blackouts across Victoria as storm forces outage at state’s largest coal generator
(about 1 hour 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-hour As many as half a million homes are without power as AGL says all four units of the 2,210 megawatt Loy Yang A were forced offline
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. As many as half a million households in Victoria have lost power after a major transmission line was brought down by a storm, tripping a power station and sending spot electricity prices soaring.
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. Customers accounting for as much as 1000 megawatts of load have gone without electricity after transmission towers near Anakie to Melbourne’s north-west were left crumpled by the wild weather. The load shedding was aimed at protecting the grid with about 300MW since restored.
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 lines failure prompted AGL Energy’s 2,210MW coal-fired power station to drop offline at 2.15pm, the company said.
Aemo issued a market alert declaring a “significant” power system event because of “multiple tripping of generation and transmission lines” in the region.Aemo issued a market alert declaring a “significant” power system event because of “multiple tripping of generation and transmission lines” in the region.
The failure has resulted in 2,300MW of generation being halted, with more than 1,000MW of load interrupted.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. An AEMO spokesperson said the Moorabool to Sydenham 500-kilovolt transmission lines tripped, resulting in “multiple generators” becoming disconnected from the grid and some consumers experienced a loss of electricity supply.
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. “AEMO is investigating the cause,” the spokesperson said. “To keep the power system secure, AEMO has directed AusNet Services to enact load shedding.”
Significant power event in the south, with possible power plant and transmission line tripping. pic.twitter.com/V72AGspCkP “Controlled load shedding is a mechanism AEMO uses as an absolute last resort to protect system security and prevent long-term damage to system infrastructure,” he said.
Aemo said it expected to have a clearer indication of the problems soon. Spot power prices were running at their ceiling level of $16,600 per MW-hour in Victoria, with other states in the national electricity market recording a wide range of prices.
Load shedding under way in parts of Victoria as prices in the spot market go haywire… (via @reddolphinsys ) pic.twitter.com/EuK1rLuMrD
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.
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”.
Bruce Mountain, head of the Victoria Energy Policy Centre, said power demand in the state was fluctuating with the Portland aluminium smelter dropping offline, returning, and apparently exiting again.
Big drop in power demand in Victoria, with some of the reduction because of load shedding. (Via @VEPC_VU ) pic.twitter.com/URmRMv2INr
Power supply issues may extend to South Australia later on Tuesday. “They depend critically on Victoria in the evening,” Mountain said.
“It’s going to be a nervous evening” for many power consumers in Victoria and South Australia, he said.