Australian Energy Market Operator

Australian engineer Daniel Westerman has been chosen to head the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) as the nation continues to navigate a rapid transformation of the generation mix.

Community group Solar Citizens has released a report using modelling from the Australian Energy Market Operator to show that 43,500 clean energy job years would be created in Queensland under its Step Change scenario.

Energy industry incumbents the Australian Energy Council and Energy Networks Australia hired UK firm Cambridge Economic Policy Associates to review the Australian Energy Market Operator’s “governance framework”. In principle, a review of the AEMO’s governance given its widening role in Australia’s energy future is valuable, but this report is about as useful as a toothpick to a pelican.

The reliability of Australia’s power supply has improved driven by the addition of new solar and wind capacity, making summer blackouts less likely, the Australian Energy Market Operator finds in its latest report. In light of the aging coal fleet and scheduled plant closures, timely commissioning of new generation, storage and transmission investment will be critical.

The Australian Energy Market Commission is hoping to gather evidence from industry on how they would be affected by the potential delay of the five-minute settlement start date by one year.

Wood Mackenzie analysts have expressed concern over deteriorating renewable energy investment conditions in Australia, noting that greater clarity on transmission investment is needed to support the sector.

In a major feat for the energy sector, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has provisionally lifted generation constraints imposed on five solar farms in the West Murray Zone, following the successful testing of new tuned inverter settings this week.

With more than half of its electricity already supplied by wind and solar, South Australia is setting the bar high for how to efficiently decarbonize the grid. As it moves toward its 2030 target of “net” 100% renewables, the speed of the state’s energy transition will depend on a host of factors.

Network connection works have been completed on Neoen’s upgraded Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia. The 50MW/64.5 MWh expansion will provide an Australian-first large-scale demonstration of the potential for battery storage to provide the stabilizing inertia services that are critical to the future integration of renewable energy.

Following the official declaration of a system strength shortfall in northern Queensland, transmission network service provider Powerlink will need to address the issue and ease the situation for three severely impacted renewable energy generators.