The Australian Energy Market Commission has extended by two weeks the time to make a final decision on dispatch obligations applying to weather-reliant generators. 

Weather-reliant generators such as large scale solar and wind farms would be prevented from turning down or off without informing the market operator under a draft rule to boost system security. 

Semi-scheduled generators include wind and solar plants that are reliant on weather conditions to operate. The amount of semi-scheduled generation has risen rapidly in recent years. It now accounts for a sizeable share of generating capacity in the national electricity market and is forecast to rise much further still.  

On 19 November 2020, the Commission published a draft determination to address risks to system security and market efficiency from semi-scheduled generators turning down or off without informing the market operator by requiring them to meet a dispatch target, or cap, subject to variations in their natural resource (such as the sun or wind). 

The Commission’s draft rule change has the effect of requiring semi-scheduled generators to follow their available resource except during semi-dispatch interval, when output should be limited to the cap specified by AEMO.

Submissions to the draft determination and rule, in particular that from Australian Energy Market Operator, proposed changes that raise complex implementation issues. To allow the Commission appropriate time to consider and assess these, the Commission has extended by two weeks the time to make the final determination and final rule. 

The Commission will now publish the final determination on 11 March 2021.

Media: Kellie Bisset, Media and Content Manager, 0438 490 041