Words: Helena Morgan

Australia’s electricity system has historically fed power from large power stations into homes and businesses through a network of substations and power lines. 

However, with the wide embrace of solar power – there are now more rooftop solar systems in Australia than swimming pools in backyards – electricity from millions of rooftop solar systems is now funnelled back into the grid. At times, this means enough power is generated to meet half of the total demand across the National Electricity Market (NEM).

AEMO’s executive general manager for operations Michael Gatt says AEMO has proactively addressed possible complications of high contributions of rooftop solar coinciding with certain system conditions, advocating for the development of an emergency response plan. 

“We’re aware this needs to be carefully managed to ensure electricity reliability and grid security while managing power system risks,” says Gatt. AEMO has received support from state governments and network operators in this advocacy journey. 

AEMO assures freedom of operation

AEMO’s report, ‘Supporting secure operation with high levels of distributed resources’, equips stakeholders with a status assessment outlining some of the new capabilities required to securely operate the NEM during high levels of generation from rooftop solar and low demand.

Gatt is quick to underline that accessing emergency powers will not see AEMO rob households of the right to control their solar. 

“AEMO does not want to directly control people’s rooftop solar,” he says.

“In rare circumstances, AEMO may need to take action to secure the grid, such as directing off-grid-scale generation to solve these emergency events which occur at the same time as unplanned generation and transmission outages.”

Gatt says it is important to understand that in rare circumstances, even if all these possible avenues have been pursued, network operators may still need to temporarily manage rooftop solar under state government solar management programs.

“These actions assist in keeping the power system secure and enable the growth of rooftop solar installations,” Gatt says.

AEMO salutes rapid and vast uptake of electrification 

Gatt says AEMO endorses and participates in the national pursuit of energy-efficient practices, namely rooftop solar, residential batteries and electric vehicles. The operator is forging its own path in the sustainability journey by adding to new market designs, trials and research.

“Our contributions will continue through the National Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Roadmap, approved by Australia’s energy ministers in July,” he says.

The roadmap articulates a plan to broaden CER’s scale and reach its “full potential” by championing the appropriate mechanisms, tools and systems.

“Such measures include supporting ongoing power system security, particularly the requirement for backstop mechanisms to be in place by the end of 2025 for emergency response to ensure operational security when required,” Gatt says. 

This article first appeared on FM.