FCAS Registration Guides (BESS, and Wind Farms and Solar Farms) Consultation

Timeline

Matter under consultation

AEMO has completed its expedited consultation on proposed updates to the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Guide to Contingency Frequency Control Ancillary Service (FCAS) Registration and Wind Farm and Solar Farm Guide to Contingency FCAS Registration.

The updated Guides provide clearer requirements for testing, simulation and the assessment of Contingency Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) capability. The changes are intended to improve the transparency and consistency of the registration assessment process and support the accurate verification of facility performance.

The final requirements reflect stakeholder feedback, experience from previous registration applications and compliance assessments. Key changes from the draft Guides include removing the requirement for grid-forming BESS inertia-disabled simulation requirements, adoption of post-fault sequential simulation sequence, replacing the simultaneous compound fault tests and confirming the validation role of on-site testing relative to simulation-derived capacity determination.

AEMO conducted the consultation using the expedited consultation process outlined in NER 8.9.3. Submissions were open from 24 June to 22 July 2026. Non-confidential submissions are published below, as per AEMO’s consultation submission guidelines.

The final report and guides are published below. The updated Guides take effect on 2 September 2026.

AEMO thanks all stakeholders who contributed feedback and participated in the consultation process.

For more information on the process, contact the team at [email protected].