The duck curve in a drying pond: The impact of rooftop PV on the Western Australian electricity market transition

Rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) are significantly influencing the electricity market and system operability in Western Australia. Qualitative methods are used to determine likely impacts and solutions to associated technical and market challenges in this islanded electricity system. Solutions focus on flattening the load curve and addressing minimum system load issues, including via; tariff reform, new ancillary services, automation, storage and energy productivity; targeted markets to match energy supply to the new demand curve; together with enabling technologies such as; improved inverter functionality and control systems. A parsimonious model demonstrates the impacts of rooftop PV on the local mid-day wholesale energy prices.

Automated summary

Rooftop solar photovoltaics are significantly influencing the electricity market and system operability in Western Australia, and solutions are needed to flatten the load curve and address minimum system load issues to match the new demand curve.