Energy Conversion Model Guidelines Consultation Wind and Solar Farms

December 2018 Update - Please note, the ECM Guidelines have since been updated following the 2018 Abridged ECM Guidelines Consultation. The most recent ECM Guidelines can be located here.

AEMO is conducting a consultation on an amendment to the Energy Conversion Model (ECM) Guidelines.

The Energy Conversion Model (ECM) for:

Wind forecasting outlines the data required to develop forecasting modules for wind farms in the Australian Wind Energy Forecasting System (AWEFS).
Solar forecasting outlines the data required to develop forecasting modules for solar farms in the Australian Solar Energy Forecasting System (ASEFS).

The ECM identifies the energy output that can be expected from a farm based on ambient conditions at the farm’s location. As part of the Registration process, all new farms connecting to the National Electricity Market (NEM) are required to submit an ECM. The model must contain the information set out in the guidelines published by AEMO in accordance with clause 2.2.7(d) of the National Electricity Rules (NER).

The objective of this consultation is to propose a change that will add a new SCADA signal to handle local limits in a dispatch timeframe. This will allow limits to be managed during periods of outages and other local limitations.

Final Report and Determination

For the current Energy Conversion Model Guidelines for Wind and Solar please view the Solar and Wind energy forecasting page on AEMOs website.

Update – 29 September 2016

AEMO advises participants that the Energy Conversion Model Guidelines Consultation will be extended to include a third round of consultation, to allow for proposing an additional AWEFS signal to be defined.

This decision is based on substantial feedback in submissions to stage 2 of the consultation. Feedback included that some participants would like to provide a signal to incorporate all factors affecting wind farm operation, including wind speed, extreme wind direction change and dynamic effects of turbine pausing and feathering.

In addition, the Second Stage Report will now be published on 14 October 2016 (originally 7 October 2016) to allow for incorporating the complexity of issues raised in the second stage submissions and discussions.

Revised consultation timeline as at 29 September 2016:

Process	Date	Status
Pre-Consultation Forum	23 February 2016	Complete
First Stage
Draft Issues Paper and Notice of Consultation	18 March 2016	Complete
Submissions Close	27 May 2016	Complete
Second Stage
Draft Report and Notice of Consultation	02 August 2016	Complete
Submissions Close	25 August 2016	Complete
Third Stage
Second Draft Report	14 October 2016	Complete
Submissions Close	04 November 2016	Complete
Final Report and ECM Guidelines	09 December 2016	Complete