Skip to Content
Jump to:

The National Electricity Market (NEM) continues to evolve through a period of significant transformation, characterised by greater penetration of inverter-based resources, a more diverse generation mix and a more decentralised system.

It is critical that the connections framework adapts to the challenges of processing a high volume of connections in an increasingly constrained network. This is a major challenge and one that requires input and collaboration from the whole industry.

In early 2020, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) brought together CEC members, network service providers (NSPs) and industry stakeholders to form the Connections Reform Initiative to address concerns with the delays and the increasing complexity in connections.

The Connections Reform Initiative works to develop solutions to address the most pressing systemic concerns with the NEM's connections process. It is vital that improvements are made to the connections process to ensure that the system can safely and securely take on the high number of large-scale renewable energy projects that are and will continue to register as Australia’s power systems transition.

What is the Connections Reform Initiative?

The Connections Reform Initiative is a joint project by the Clean Energy Council and AEMO and involves CEC members, NSPs and industry and market body representatives, including the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and the Energy Security Board (ESB). 

Together, we are working towards the following objectives:

  • a consistent and predictable connections process that delivers repeatable outcomes
  • reduce re-work and improve efficiency and quality of information to address information asymmetry
  • create a collaborative working model between industry, AEMO and the NSPs.

Neil Gibbs (from Online Power) was appointed as an independent facilitator to bring structure, rigour and objectivity to the process.

Connections Reform Roadmap

The revised Connections Reform Roadmap is the culmination of three years of work by the Connections Reform Initiative, a collaboration jointly sponsored by the Clean Energy Council and the Australian Energy Market Operator to address concerns involving all parties in the connection process regarding delays and increasing complexity in connecting new generators to the grid. 

The revised roadmap provides updates on the first roadmap’s 11 recommendations to improve the grid connection process, including across access standards, information and modelling, batching, and investment certainty, all of which will help to speed up the connection process, lower the cost of connection, improve hosting capacity and system strength, and allow for firmer connection process timeframes.

Connections Reform Roadmap

Ongoing implementation efforts

The Clean Energy Council and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) have continued implementing the recommendations. Three have been fully delivered:
  1. CRI work to change selected minimum access standards culminated in a supportive rule change release in April 2023
  2. AEMO finalised and deployed changes to select guidelines in 2021
  3. Clean Energy Council held fora and initiatives in 2021 and 2022 to drive collaboration

The others remain in various stages of progress. Those include exploring options to install battery storage systems behind existing connection points, revising AEMO’s approach to updating its guidelines, refining OEM data and modelling, streamlining the connections process, and enhancing investment certainty in the early stages of the connection process.

In 2023, the Clean Energy Council will focus on a public rule change process to enhance investment certainty. It lodged a rule change request with the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) in May 2023. That request resulted from over seven months of listening, analysis, and consultation with every stakeholder group involved in the connections process. Please see the AEMC’s rule change projects site to participate in the public consultation process.

Leadership Group

The Connections Reform Initiative is being led by the following industry figures:

  • Charles Popple, Australian Energy Market Commission
  • Merryn York, Australian Energy Market Operator
  • Margarida Pimentel, Australian Energy Market Operator
  • Kane Thornton, Clean Energy Council
  • Christiaan Zuur, Clean Energy Council
  • John Cole, Edify Energy
  • Rayner Korte, ElectraNet
  • Werther Esposito, ENEL Green Power
  • Dominic Adams, Energy Networks Australia
  • John Titchen, Goldwind Australia
  • Peter Cowling, Mint Renewables
  • Geoff Dutaillis, Powering Australian Renewables
  • Josef Tadich, Tesla
  • Damien Sanford, Tilt Renewables

Progress to date

The earlier stages of work included a comprehensive problem definition phase and the formation of clusters to explore solutions in four main areas:

  1. access standards
  2. information asymmetry and modelling
  3. batching of the connections process
  4. providing post-financial close predictability for developers.

This work was undertaken by volunteers working in clusters, who shared their proposed reform initiatives at the Reform Directions Webinar. This was held over two days and attended by over 70 of the Connection Reforms Initiative's community of volunteers.

The clusters are now refining their reform areas. Drafting of the Connections Reform Roadmap, the Connection Reform Initiative’s major milestone, has also commenced. The CEC’s Market & Grid Directorate, members of Energy Networks Australia and numerous people from AEMO will join a webinar to further develop this roadmap in mid-October 2021.

The Connections Reform Initiative is expected to lead to a number of recommended rule changes, some material changes to process and information availability, and changes to the minimum access standards.

Everyone involved in the Connections Reform Initiative is equally conscious of both how busy people already are and how important it is to quickly deliver improved outcomes for all. Given this, a key consideration in the design of the Connections Reform Roadmap will be to ensure that its recommendations balance ambition for speedy change with pragmatism and realism.

Get involved as a member

As a Clean Energy Council member you can join the Market, Investment and Grid Directorate – the primary forum where members can contribute to discussions like this one on the Connections Reform Initiative. If you are not already involved in the Directorate and would like to be, contact our Membership team to find out more.
Become a member
See current members
Get involved as a member