Each year, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) spends months collaborating with governments and industry to support delivery of reliable and secure power over the summer period in the National Electricity Market (NEM) on the east coast and Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) in Western Australia.
AEMO Executive General Manager of Operations Michael Gatt said this wide-ranging collaboration helps to maximise available generation and transmission for times of high demand across our energy systems.
“We’re expecting similar conditions this summer to last year across Australia, with warmer than average days and nights likely for most of the country.”
“This includes the risk of heatwaves and increased likelihood of record maximum demand events.”
“There is also the possibility for more minimum demand records as renewable output continues to grow alongside low grid demand on mild weekends and public holidays,” he said.
Synchronous generation (coal, gas and hydro) availability is largely similar, with the expected addition of Hunter Power Station (660 MW) to be in full commercial operation over the summer.
By technology type in the NEM, battery energy storage capacity has grown by 1.3 gigawatts (GW) since September last year, while 1.52 GW of grid-scale solar and 1.42 GW of wind have been commissioned to full output, with a total of 4.7 GW across 28 projects now fully operational.
In the WEM, there is an extra 300 MW in battery storage, with a further 500 MW undergoing commissioning during summer.
To navigate the anticipated high demand events in the NEM, AEMO has a panel of reserve providers, which, if needed, can be called upon to deliver extra capacity.
In Western Australia, supplementary capacity is available, which was critical in managing record demand during the past three summers.
Across both the NEM and WEM, gas storage levels are typical for this time of the year across both markets, with coal stockpiles also expected to be normal.
“AEMO continues to monitor risks as we progress through the summer months,” Mr Gatt said.
“If challenges do arise, due to the extensive preparations, AEMO has multiple levers at its disposal across both the NEM and WEM, including, recalling planned transmission outages, directing all available capacity online and activating emergency reserves,” he added.
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