Distributed Energy Resources - Initial Standard

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is conducting a consultation on the contents of the initial Distributed Energy Resource (DER) minimum technical standard (the ‘Initial Standard’). 

This consultation is being conducted alongside the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) rule change consultation on establishing DER technical standards in the National Electricity Rules (NER) - Technical Standards for Distributed Energy Storage (ERC0301). 

January 2021 update: On 3 December 2020, the AEMC published their draft determination in which the AEMC indicated the NER itself not a subordinate instrument would point directly to the revised AS/NZS 4777.2: 2020. In this way, the rule change would incorporate the voltage disturbance ride through testing advocated by AEMO. 

As a result, AEMO’s consultation on the content of an Initial Standard is no longer required and has been closed. 

Background

In March 2020, the Council of Australian Government Energy Council (COAG EC) tasked the Energy Security Board (ESB) and AEMO to develop a rule change request that establishes in the National Electricity Market the initial minimum distributed energy resource (DER) technical standards in 2020, and to develop mirror requirements in Western Australia. At the same time, the ESB was also tasked with considering the future governance arrangements for DER technical standards. 

To meet the COAG EC commitments, market bodies are seeking to collaborate with industry to progress:

1. An AEMC rule change process to enable the enacting of initial minimum DER technical standards;
2. The content of the initial DER minimum technical standards (the subject of this consultation) to be published with the final Rule determination; and
3. The development of the ongoing new governance arrangements for the DER technical standards by the ESB, noting a second round of consultations is likely in August.

This consultation addresses the content of an Initial Standard to be made under the rule, should this come into effect.

Indicative Consultation Timeline

* Timing based on standard consultation process without meeting requests.

**The final report is dependent upon AEMC considerations of AEMO’s DER minimum technical standards rule change request. 

Please reach out to DERProgram@aemo.com.au if you have any questions.

First Stage Consultation Documents

The first stage of consultations is now complete.

This consultation references a consultation to support the South Australian fast track of the same inverter energy system capabilities proposed for the initial standard. 

The outcome of this consultation was publication of the final VDRT test procedure. 

Submissions should be forwarded to AEMO by 5:00pm (AEST) on Tuesday 29 September 2020.

This consultation references a consultation to support the South Australian fast track of the same inverter energy system capabilities proposed for the initial standard.

The outcome of this consultation was publication of the final VDRT test procedure.

Submissions

All written submissions must be provided digitally and sent by email to DERProgram@aemo.com.au. Submissions must be received by AEMO by 5:00pm (AEST) on the day specified in the consultation timeline.

Public submissions will be published 1 week after submission close date. Any confidential submissions must be clearly marked, or any confidential information within a submission should be clearly marked to make clear to AEMO so that confidentiality can be maintained.

Verbal submissions will be noted by AEMO and published alongside written submissions. Confidentiality of verbal submissions must also be made clear so that AEMO can exclude this from publication.