Spare capacity in Australian energy systems refers to the amount of generating capacity that is available to meet peak demand, but is not currently being used. This capacity can be from either dispatchable or intermittent sources.
Dispatchable sources are those that can be turned on and off at the request of the energy market operator, such as gas-fired power plants. Intermittent sources are those that can't be controlled, such as wind and solar.
The amount of spare capacity in the system varies depending on a number of factors, including:
- The time of day: Spare capacity is typically lower during the evening peak, when demand for electricity is highest.
- The time of year: Spare capacity is typically lower during summer, when demand for air conditioning is highest.
- The weather: Spare capacity can be lower on hot days when demand for air conditioning is high, or on cloudy days when solar output is low.
- Maintenance and outages: Spare capacity can be lower when power plants are offline for maintenance or repairs, or if there are issues with the transmission network.
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