Cloud-based tool for power grid connections
A cloud-based connections simulation tool for new grid connections to Australia’s electricity networks has received funding from ARENA.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $2.23 million in funding to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to develop the technology.
The $12.95 million project will be the first step of a staged approach for the delivery of AEMO’s Australian Energy Simulation Centre, which was investigated through an ARENA-funded feasibility study in 2019. The connections simulation tool is a critical foundational operating platform to achieve AEMO’s overall objective to efficiently manage a large number of grid connection applications from renewable energy developers.
AEMO has identified the connections simulation tool as a critical solution to assist project developers to more efficiently prepare their applications for projects, such as new solar or wind farms, and reduce the time to connect them to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
AEMO is developing the connections simulation tool to allow project developers and their partners and electricity networks to rapidly test and refine their renewable energy plant and project configurations using the same detailed wide-area power system simulations as used within AEMO, while preserving the confidentiality of the model data.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the development of the connections simulation tool would help to integrate and fast-track renewable energy into the energy system.
“Australia’s energy system is evolving rapidly with most of the growth in generation coming from rooftop solar and large-scale solar and wind.
“The proposed connections simulation tool will assist large-scale developers by providing a detailed source of energy data and modelling that incorporates our electricity systems, thereby allowing them to accelerate their development process and manage potential risk before going through the formal grid connection process.”
Testing will soon commence with industry participants on a working prototype, followed by a staged rollout of the connection simulation tool. The first major release is planned for the end of 2021. AEMO will work collaboratively with industry and trial users, and incorporate stakeholder feedback at each stage.
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