Useful Links

Registration is a key process and this section and provides information and links for those intending to participate in the National Electricity Market (NEM). Documents in this section are relevant to the registration information and resource guidelines AEMO publishes in accordance with the National Electricity Rules (NER).

The Connections Reform Initiative (CRI) is jointly sponsored by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the Clean Energy Council (CEC). The CRI was created to help overcome challenges in connecting new generators to the grid during the fastest clean energy system transition in the world. The speed of transition is creating significant challenges in connecting new projects to the grid, leading to the formation of the CRI.

The Engineering Framework is a toolkit to define the full range of operational, technical and engineering requirements needed to prepare the NEM power system for six identified future operational conditions, including preparation for 100% instantaneous penetration of renewables. The framework seeks to facilitate an orderly transition to a secure and efficient future NEM system.

AEMO’s Integrated System Plan (ISP) is a whole-of-system plan to identify the least system cost investments needed for Australia’s future energy system, including new generation and corresponding transmission augmentations. The ISP can provide helpful information regarding the most efficient location for new generation, as well as augmentations that may make connection to the DSN easier.

The National Electricity Rules governs the planning and operation of the National Electricity Market (NEM). Changes to the National Electricity Rules are made by the AEMC. The Rules are made by the AEMC under the National Electricity Law and have the force of law.

The Victorian Government announced a $1.6 billion clean energy package, through the 2020–21 State Budget, to invest in renewables, grid infrastructure, energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects. This included a $540 million REZ fund to help develop the six Victorian REZs AEMO identified in its ISP.  RDP projects may impact connecting generators.

As the functional transmission planner of the Victorian Transmission System, AEMO manages the transmission network performances and connections across Victoria. Functional specifications are prepared by AEMO for any augmentation to the Declared Shared Network (DSN).  
All physical connections to the DSN are arranged through transmission terminal stations which provide the bulk supply points for connections. All terminal stations have an indicative ultimate site arrangement which considers future augmentation requirements. 

AEMO's VAPR is published annually each October. The VAPR contains information about the DSN for connecting generators including:

• Historical and emerging network constraints
• Committed and future network augmentations
• REZ hosting capacity estimates.