The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) welcomes the release of the Western Australian (WA) Government’s inaugural Whole of System Plan (WOSP) – a comprehensive study of the possible changes to occur in WA’s major power system over the next 20 years.
“WA’s energy system continues to rapidly transform as investment increases in rooftop solar and household devices that store energy, including batteries,” said Audrey Zibelman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
“Care must be taken now to manage this transition towards a more decarbonised, decentralised, and digitalised power system.”
As a key project in the WA Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy, AEMO supports the release of the inaugural WOSP to help deliver a low cost and secure energy future.
The plan provides four scenarios identifying how changes in demand, technology, and the economy may possibly shape the way consumers use energy over the next 20 years, which may guide and inform future investment decisions.
“The rapid transformation of the power system highlights the need for plans like the WOSP, alongside the WA Government’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadmap and Foundation Regulatory Framework workstreams, to address new operational challenges in delivering a reliable energy to Western Australian customers.”
The WOSP has been developed by the WA Government’s Energy Transformation Taskforce, with specialist input from AEMO and Western Power, along with broad engagement with industry.
Ms Zibelman said AEMO supports an ongoing coordinated and collaborative approach to system planning and looks forward to working with the WA Government, the energy industry and key energy stakeholders in the delivery of the other Energy Transformation Strategy initiatives.