Market ancillary services specification and FCAS verification tool

The market ancillary services specification ( MASS) contains:

• A detailed description of each kind of market ancillary service.

• The performance parameters and requirements which must be satisfied for a service to qualify as the relevant market ancillary service, and also when a market participant provides the relevant kind of market ancillary service.

• Verification procedures for market ancillary services.

As required by the National Electricity Amendment (Fast frequency response market ancillary service) Rule 2021 No.84 (Amending Rule), AEMO has amended the market ancillary service specification (MASS) under the National Electricity Rules (NER) to accommodate two new markets for very fast frequency control ancillary services (very fast FCAS).

Version 7 of the MASS will remain effective until the new Very Fast FCAS Markets commence on 9 October 2023.

The FCAS verification tool (FCASVT) is an Excel spreadsheet that has been made available to NEM participants to calculate FCAS delivered by their plant.

Version 5.01 of the FCASVT will calculate fast raise (R6), slow raise (R60), delayed raise (R5), fast lower (L6), slow lower (L60), and delayed lower (L5), delivered in accordance with the MASS. The FCASVT also allows the user to inspect in detail how the MASS is applied in processing data to arrive at a result.

Version 6.2 of the FCASVT incorporates updates based on industry feedback and implements the changes made in V8.1 (and V8.0) of the MASS which will be effective from 9 October 2023. In addition to the calculation for fast, slow and delayed FCAS, the FCASVT Version 6.2 calculates very fast raise (R1) and very fast lower (L1), delivered in accordance with the MASS.

The Wind Farm and Solar Farm Guide to Contingency FCAS Registration has been developed by AEMO to assist market participants in the NEM looking to register a wind farm or a solar farm to provide contingency FCAS.

The BESS Guide to Contingency FCAS Registration has been developed by AEMO to assist market participants in the NEM looking to register a battery energy storage system to provide contingency FCAS.

The FAQ has been published to clarify the technical requirements for market participants seeking to register in the Very Fast FCAS markets or amend their maximum registered Fast FCAS capacity to comply with version 8.0 of the Market Ancillary Services Specification (MASS).

MASS Consultation

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has initiated consultation on the Market Ancillary Service Specification (MASS) with regards to incorporation of very fast frequency control ancillary services (very fast FCAS).