Roadmap released to smooth connections for wind and solar, and to add batteries

Wind, solar and storage developers are hoping for a smoother, less costly and delay-free connection process following the release of a new roadmap by the Australian Energy Market Operator and the Clean Energy Council.

Connection delays have been the bane of the industry in recent years: It has caused some new projects to sit idle for up to two years or more, cost over-runs which have led to the collapse of major EPC contractors, and made some investors think twice about building a project in Australia.

AEMO and the CEC have been working on a solution for more than 18 months and last week announced a proposed rule change that would bring clarity to wind, solar and storage developers over the registration process and the modelling required.

The new Connections Reform Roadmap flags several new significant advances. One of them is shifting the onus of proof on to the market operator or the network owner if they fear that a new project will add to grid instability.

Many projects have been required to add new equipment – such as synchronous condensers and harmonic filters – on the assumption that they cause problems for the grid where they are located. Some of these requirements have proved unnecessary, while still adding significant costs to the project.

Another key breakthrough will be in battery storage, and the ability of wind and solar farm owners to add big batteries to their existing facilities.

Till now, this has required project owners to plunge back into expensive modelling – something that they have been reluctant to do – but the new roadmap will explore the opportunity to ‘cordon off’ existing plant from reopening the modelling when adding a battery.

Other key initiatives include an agreement on a more flexible approach around performance standards that will minimise process uncertainty and system risks.

And another is to create a white list of approved products for PV inverters, wind turbine generators, synchronous generators and condensers, battery storage and power plant controllers.

CEC chief executive Kane Thornton says the new roadmap results from the work of more than 50 organisations and will play a transformative role as Australia’s clean energy transition accelerates.

“Australia has a huge, but not insurmountable, task ahead when it comes to the deployment of large-scale generation and storage,” Thornton said.

“With grid connection and network access the top concern of clean energy investors going back to at least 2019, it’s clear that there’s work to be done, and I’m proud to see the progress that’s been made as part of the CRI since the first iteration of the Roadmap in 2021.”

The head of system design at AEMO Merryn York, said: “We’re pleased with the momentum outlined in the updated roadmap and look forward to delivering key initiatives in the coming months.”

State and federal energy ministers last week agreed to provide $3 million in additional funds to AEMO to help fast track the connection and commissioning of wind, solar and battery projects currently in the pipeline to make sure they are operational by the coming summer.

However, few details have been released on how this will be put into place, apart from the hiring of additional staff to help fast-track some projects.