Renewable Integration Study (RIS)

The Engineering Framework builds on the work done in the RIS Stage 1 report. It delivers on the RIS commitment to deliver an integrated roadmap to ensure that the NEM can be operated across all ISP scenarios out to 2025 and beyond, in a way that supports the long term interests of consumers.  

The Renewable Integration Study (RIS) is the first stage of a multi-year plan to maintain system security in a future National Electricity Market (NEM) with a high share of renewable resources. AEMO’s findings and recommendations in this report reflect both its day-to-day experience operating the NEM power system, and the results of extensive RIS modelling and analysis.

This Stage 1 RIS report takes the ISP’s projections as given and investigates in detail the challenges in the short term, to 2025, of maintaining power system security while operating this resource mix at very high instantaneous penetrations^[1] of wind and solar generation. It recommends actions and reforms needed to keep operating the NEM securely, now and as the power system transitions. AEMO looks forward to engaging with stakeholders to refine and progress the recommended actions, including assessing the potential roles of both existing and emerging technologies.

With this report, AEMO aims to provide foundational engineering perspectives for the ISP, Energy Security Board (ESB), industry, market institutions, and policy-makers. The RIS’s technical perspectives will ideally inform future investments, regulations, and market designs to securely operate the NEM power system with very high instantaneous penetrations of renewables.

^[1] Instantaneous penetration of wind and solar is the half-hourly proportion of underlying demand that is met by wind and solar resources.

Webinars

Engagement

Following release of the RIS Stage 1 report in April 2020, AEMO consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, providing information on the methodology, results and recommendations of the study and discussed feedback, concerns, or suggestions regarding the RIS Stage 1 report and priority focus areas for the future.

Given current COVID-19 restrictions, AEMO used a variety of engagement options to maximise the value to all stakeholders, including a webinar series for technical and non-technical audiences (see above), open industry and consumer workshops, targeted video conference workshops for industry and international groups, fact sheets (see above) and the opportunity for written submissions. 

AEMO has published a report in response to written stakeholder submissions. This publication sets out the key themes raised in stakeholder written submissions in response to the RIS Stage 1 report. It provides discussion of how these themes have been considered by AEMO and provides an indication of future RIS bodies of work. 

Contact

For further information, or queries regarding the Renewable Integration Study, please contact AEMO’s Future Energy Systems team at FutureEnergy@aemo.com.au.