The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) publishes an Integrated System Plan (ISP) every two years which outlines an ‘optimal development path’ (ODP) for generation, storage and network investments to meet consumer needs and government policies, at least cost.
Our submission to AEMO's Draft 2026 ISP includes the following recommendations for the final 2026 ISP:
• That greater emphasis should be placed on the capabilities of distributed energy, local flexibility markets, and the value that consumer and distributed assets can deliver when properly coordinated.
• That greater emphasis should be placed on the importance of long-duration storage and hydro in order to provide clear signals for planning at the national level.
• That greater emphasis should be placed on the importance of transmission upgrades to meet the ODP. Modelling should be included to show the impact of transmission delays as well as opportunities for expanding networks beyond currently planned projects.
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