Getting the grid ready

Planning a large-scale renewable energy project is immensely complicated and can be delayed for a multitude of reasons. We're working with stakeholders to streamline planning requirements for developers and we're working with State Governments on the design of the REZs to ensure the investment signals are strong, access and connection regimes are fit for purpose, the timeline of transmission infrastructure is aligned with renewable energy generation buildout, and planning requirements do not cause delays. We continue to work closely with the New South Wales Government, Victorian and Queensland Governments on REZ development and envision this can be used as a blueprint for other states.

Too often, renewables projects have to wait months for connection and access in order to progress to the next phases of project development.

Clean Energy Council, together with the Australian Energy Market Operator, established the Connections Reform Initiative to bring together CEC members, network service providers (NSPs) and industry stakeholders to co-design solutions to problems with the NEM's connections process. 

We're also working on transmission access reform to tackle congestion – when physical limits on the grid means mean generators can't export their power to customers. This includes transmission access reform, an evolving policy area that has seen significant changes since 2022. We will continue to work with the AEMC, State governments and agencies delivering REZ, industry bodies, alongside our members, to deliver the best outcomes for the renewable energy industry.

Renewable energy sources are intermittent, dependent on when the sun shines and the wind blows. It's important therefore that the grid can deal with voltage fluctuations, periods of low inertia, and is strong, stable and secure. 

We're working to improve consistency across multiple policy reform projects on system strength and lobbying to ensure renewable projects aren't lumped with all the costs associated with upgrading the energy system. This forms a key focus area as we learn about the changes that come with operating a system run mostly by power electronics.

Australia regularly generates most of its power from renewables during the day, but much less at night. Storage provided by batteries, hydro or other storage technologies is necessary to keep the lights on. 

Since the release of the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme by the Commonwealth Government, we have been a pivotal voice for the industry in how the scheme is developed. Alongside the Capacity Investment Scheme, the Long-Term Energy Support Agreement scheme in New South Wales, the Supergrid Blueprint in Queensland and the State Electricity Commission in Victoria are key developments that will ensure Australia reaches 100 per cent renewables.

The Federal Government is investing significantly in supporting transmission network system providers building the transmission needed to deliver renewable energy to homes and businesses across the country. It's a huge build that has met opposition from some communities.

We're working with governments and regulatory bodies to ensure we have a modern grid and transmission network system providers are incentivised for the continuous improvements in grid enhancement. Alongside the technical nature of changes, we’re also working with various stakeholders to facilitate better community engagement, appropriate benefit-sharing and better planning processes to ensure social license exists to deliver key transmission projects.

The Market, Investment and Grid team covers in depth key reforms that relate to ensuring the energy transition is well underway covering both economic and technical aspects of the transmission challenge.