A draft text sent to Australia’s ministers by the Energy Security Board (ESB) has revived the prospect of a capacity market – which would reward dispatchable power sources such as coal, gas and batteries with payments for being available, even when not used. Besides that central proposal, the report raises the possibility of effectively reviving the COGATI rules in the form of a new “congestion management” model, and establishing a centralized “strategic reserve.” All of these are a threat to renewable energy development, while shoring up the economics for existing thermal capacity. The ESB states that a “decentralized capacity mechanism” will be the heart of more detailed plans which will reach fruition in about 18 months. This has been met…