Draft 2026 ISP Consultation

Timeline

Draft 2026 ISP published

10 December 2025
Draft 2026 ISP publication webinar

16 December 2025
Consumer advocates verbal submission

13 February 2026
Submissions due on Draft 2026 ISP

13 February 2026
Final 2026 ISP published

25 June 2026

Key contact

A mail icon. Email: [email protected]

Overview

AEMO’s ISP is a roadmap for the NEM’s transition, and outlines an ‘optimal development path’ (ODP) for generation, storage and network investments to meet both consumer needs and government policies, at least cost, to 2050.

The 2026 ISP reaffirms that renewable energy, connected by transmission and distribution, firmed with storage and backed up by gas, presents the least-cost way to supply secure and reliable electricity to consumers through to 2050, as coal plants retire and while meeting government policies.

The 2026 ISP was informed by extensive stakeholder consultation on the methodology, inputs, assumptions and scenarios, the Draft 2026 ISP, and the Addendum to the Draft 2026 ISP.

Draft 2026 ISP non-network options consultation – Switching Station Near Wondalga

Draft 2026 ISP
Consultation submissions
Final 2026 ISP

Draft 2026 ISP publication webinar presentation

16/12/2025
Draft 2026 ISP publication webinar presentation
3.18 MB

Draft 2026 ISP webinar recording

Appendices

Supporting materials

Regulatory materials

Non-network options consultation for Switching Station Near Wondalga

Appendices

Supporting documents

2026 ISP data files

2026 ISP Traces

Demand Trace Component Definitions

This section provides definitions for each component included in the demand traces dataset. Electricity demand associated with the production of both domestic and export hydrogen is not included in any of the components described below, across all scenarios. Demand related to hydrogen production is modelled separately, in accordance with the methodologies and inputs outlined in the ISP Methodology and the 2025 Inputs, Assumptions and Scenarios Report (IASR). 

Component	Description
OPSO	Half-hourly regional demand traces for operational demand, defined as demand after accounting for the impact of rooftop PV and PVNSG.
OPSO_PVLITE	Contains half-hourly regional demand traces for operational demand (demand before the impact of rooftop PV and PVNSG)
OPSO_MODELLING	Version of demand used in AEMO’s market modelling.  OPSO_MODELLING = OPSO – ICL + EVVPP.
OPSO_MODELLING_PVLITE	Version of demand used in AEMO’s market modelling.  OPSO_MODELLING_PVLITE = OPSO_MODELLING+ PV_TOT
PV	Contains half hourly regional generation traces for rooftop PV
PV_TOT	Contains half hourly regional/ sub_regional generation traces for all embedded PV, including rooftop PV and PVNSG. Generation from PVNSG can be found as PV_NSG = PV_TOT – PV.
EV	Contains half hourly regional aggregate electric vehicle charging
ESS	Contains half hourly regional aggregate customer installed battery charging/discharging. ESS is capturing the net impact of battery storages (charge – discharge). To remove ESS from OPSO you would subtract it: OPSO - ESS
VTOH	Contains half hourly regional aggregate discharging from electric vehicles to homes (only used in the Step change scenario).
EVVPP	Coordinated EV charging (targeting low demand periods, helping to lift minimum demand). Not reflected in demand traces
ELECTRIFICATION_BUS	Electrification impact on the business sector
ELECTRIFICATION_RES	Electrification impact on the residential sector
ICL	Estimated interconnector losses (to allow netting off those if you are modelling interconnector losses in the market modelling).

ISP Demand Trace Data - Regional
The regional demand trace files provide half-hourly demand data for each (NEM) region, disaggregated by the demand components defined in the Demand Trace Component Definitions section above.

The dataset includes traces for both 10% and 50% probability of exceedance (POE), across 23 reference years (2003 to 2025), and for each of the three core ISP scenarios.
ISP Demand Trace Data - Sub-Regional
The sub-regional demand trace files provide half-hourly demand data for each National Electricity Market (NEM) sub-region, disaggregated by key demand components, including OPSO_MODELLING, OPSO_MODELLING_PV_LITE, and PV_TOT. 

The dataset includes traces for both 10% and 50% probability of exceedance (POE) conditions, across 23 reference years (2003 to 2025), and for each of the three core ISP scenarios.
ISP Variable Renewable Trace Data
- 25/06/2026
  2026 ISP Firm Contribution Factors
  2.06 MB

Draft 2026 ISP data files

Draft 2026 ISP traces

Draft Demand Trace Component Definitions

This section provides definitions for each component included in the draft demand traces dataset. Electricity demand associated with the production of both domestic and export hydrogen is not included in any of the components described below, across all scenarios. Demand related to hydrogen production is modelled separately, in accordance with the methodologies and inputs outlined in the ISP Methodology and the 2025 Inputs, Assumptions and Scenarios Report (IASR). 

Component	Description
OPSO	Half-hourly regional demand traces for operational demand, defined as demand after accounting for the impact of rooftop PV and PVNSG.
OPSO_PVLITE	Contains half-hourly regional demand traces for operational demand (demand before the impact of rooftop PV and PVNSG)
OPSO_MODELLING	Version of demand used in AEMO’s market modelling.   OPSO_MODELLING = OPSO – ICL + EVVPP.
OPSO_MODELLING_PVLITE	Version of demand used in AEMO’s market modelling.  OPSO_MODELLING_PVLITE = OPSO_MODELLING+ PV_TOT
PV	Contains half hourly regional generation traces for rooftop PV
PV_TOT	Contains half hourly regional/ sub_regional generation traces for all embedded PV, including rooftop PV and PVNSG. Generation from PVNSG can be found as PV_NSG = PV_TOT – PV.
EV	Contains half hourly regional aggregate electric vehicle charging
ESS	Contains half hourly regional aggregate customer installed battery charging/discharging. ESS is capturing the net impact of battery storages (charge – discharge). To remove ESS from OPSO you would subtract it: OPSO - ESS
VTOH	Contains half hourly regional aggregate discharging from electric vehicles to homes (only used in the Step change scenario).
EVVPP	Coordinated EV charging (targeting low demand periods, helping to lift minimum demand). Not reflected in demand traces
ELECTRIFICATION_BUS	Electrification impact on the business sector
ELECTRIFICATION_RES	Electrification impact on the residential sector
ICL	Estimated interconnector losses (to allow netting off those if you are modelling interconnector losses in the market modelling).

Draft ISP demand trace data (regional)
The draft regional demand trace files provide half-hourly demand data for each (NEM) region, disaggregated by the demand components defined in the Draft Demand Trace Component Definitions section above. 

The dataset includes traces for both 10% and 50% probability of exceedance (POE), across 23 reference years (2003 to 2025), and for each of the three core ISP scenarios.
Draft ISP demand trace data (sub-regional)
The draft sub-regional demand trace files provide half-hourly demand data for each National Electricity Market (NEM) sub-region, disaggregated by key demand components, including OPSO_MODELLING, OPSO_MODELLING_PV_LITE, and PV_TOT. 

The dataset includes traces for both 10% and 50% probability of exceedance (POE) conditions, across 23 reference years (2003 to 2025), and for each of the three core ISP scenarios. 
Draft ISP Variable Renewable Energy trace data

Draft 2026 ISP Consultation

Timeline

Key contact

Overview

Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP)

Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan overview

Draft 2026 ISP publication webinar presentation

Draft 2026 ISP publication webinar presentation

Draft 2026 ISP webinar recording

Appendices

A1 Stakeholder Engagement

A2 Generation and Storage Development Opportunities

A3 Renewable Energy Zones

A4 System Operability

A5 Network Investments

A6 Cost Benefit Analysis

A7 System Security

A8 Social Licence

A9 Demand Side Factors Statement

A10 Gas Development Projections

Supporting materials

Draft 2026 ISP chart data

Draft 2026 ISP generation and storage outlook

Draft 2026 ISP Inputs and Assumptions workbook

Addendum to the 2025 Inputs, Assumptions and Scenarios Report

AEMO: Indicative REZ boundaries 2025 – GIS data

AEMO: Indicative sub-regional boundaries 2025 – GIS data

Jacobs 2025 Strategic land use distributed resources limit update

Regulatory materials

2026 ISP Consumer Panel Draft 2026 ISP Submission

2026 ISP Consumer Panel Response to the Demand Side Factors Statement

Acciona Energia

AITERAQ Advisory

Alinta Energy

ANU Centre for Energy Systems

APA

Ark Energy

Ausgrid

Ausgrid supplementary response

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)

Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner

Australian Resources Development Limited

Beyond Zero Emissions

Centre for Independent Studies

Clean Energy Council

Clean Energy Investor Group

Climateworks Centre

Coal Australia

Community Power Agency

Consumer Advocates verbal submission

CS Energy Limited

CSPER

Ecojoule Energy

ElectraNet

Electric Power Consulting

Electric Vehicle Council

Electrification and Energy Systems Network (EESN)

Endeavour Energy

Energy Australia

Energy Efficiency Council

Ergon Energy Network and Energex

Future Earth Australia

GE Vernova

HILT CRC

Hydro Tasmania

Iberdrola

IEEFA

International Hydropower Association

ITEZZE

Justice and Equity Centre

Kamener, Martin

Magnetite Mines

Marinus Link

Molloy, Lawrence

Nexa Advisory

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Origin Energy

Park, Malcolm

Powering Skills Organisation

Powerlink Queensland