Facility tests
AEMO must verify and test each facility to ensure it is capable of meeting its reserve capacity obligations. Generation facilities must be tested twice a year – once in winter and once in summer – and demand side programs (DSPs) must be tested once a year. Other testing may also be required. Testing must be undertaken for each fuel type the facility is certified to operate on.
A facility may pass by observation if it operates at the required test level for at least one half-hour trading interval. This reduces the costs of testing for market participants.
If a facility has not passed by observation for a testing period, AEMO follows these steps:
- Requests system management to test the facility over two consecutive trading intervals.
- If the facility fails this test, AEMO requests system management to re-test the facility between 14 and 28 days after the first test.
- If the facility fails the second test, its capacity credits will be reduced to the maximum output achieved during either test.
- The market participant may request a third test where it has failed both previous tests. Upon passing the third test, the capacity credits will be reinstated, or set at the level of output achieved during the third test.
Demand side program verification testing
In addition to the facility test above, DSPs must also undertake verification testing between 1 October and 30 November of each year (or, in the case of a new DSP, within 20 days of registration).
Verification tests require the DSP to demonstrate a reduction in demand of at least 10% of the capacity credits assigned.
Market participants must notify AEMO and system management, at least two business days before the test, of the intervals in which a verification test is to be conducted. If this notification is not provided, AEMO will not consider this test.
If a DSP fails a test, AEMO must reduce its capacity credits to zero. The market participant may schedule a re-test to have the capacity credits restored.
Quarterly reports of Reserve Capacity tests
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2020 Reserve Capacity test reports
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07/01/2021
Reserve Capacity test report: 1 October 2020 - 31 December 2020
96.01 KB -
24/09/2020
Reserve Capacity test report: 1 July 2020 - 30 September 2020
89.53 KB -
30/06/2020
Reserve Capacity test report: 1 April 2020 - 30 June 2020
66.84 KB -
31/03/2020
Reserve Capacity test report: 1 January 2020 to 31 March 2020
81.43 KB
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2019 Reserve Capacity test reports
- 1 January 2019 to 31 March 2019 (48 KB, pdf)
- 1 April 2019 to 30 June 2019 (41 KB, pdf)
- 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019 (45 KB, pdf)
- 1 October 2019 to 31 December 2019 (35 KB, pdf)
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2018 Reserve Capacity test reports
- 1 January to 31 March 2018 (166 KB, pdf)
- 1 April to 30 June 2018 (148 KB, pdf)
- 1 July to 30 September 2018 (184 KB, pdf)
- 1 October to 31 December 2018 (41 KB, pdf)
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2017 Reserve Capacity test reports
- 1 October to 31 December 2017 (165 KB, pdf)
- 1 July to 30 September 2017 (170 KB, pdf)
- 1 April to 30 June 2017 (167 KB, pdf)
- 1 January to 31 March 2017 (174 KB, pdf)
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2016 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 October to 31 December 2016 (167 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2016 (19 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2016 (19 KB, pdf)
1 January to 31 March 2016 (174 KB, pdf)
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2015 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 October to 31 December 2015 (167 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2015 (19 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2015 (13 KB, pdf)
1 January to 31 March 2015 (19 KB, pdf)
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2014 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 January to 31 March 2014 (24 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2014 (31 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2014 (15 KB, pdf)
1 October to 31 December 2014 (35 KB, pdf)
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2013 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 January to 31 March 2013 (18 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2013 (31 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2013 (36 KB, pdf)
1 October to 31 December 2013 (31 KB, pdf)
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2012 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 January to 31 March 2012 (320 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2012 (65 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2012 (12 KB, pdf)
1 October to 31 December 2012 (21 KB, pdf)
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2011 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 January to 31 March 2011 (110 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2011 (102 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2011 (113 KB, pdf)
1 October to 31 December 2011 (109 KB, pdf)
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2010 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 January to 31 March 2010 (113 KB, pdf)
1 April to 30 June 2010 (109 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2010 (113 KB, pdf)
1 October to 31 December 2010 (109 KB, pdf)
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2009 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 April to 30 June 2009 (74 KB, pdf)
1 July to 30 September 2009 (113 KB, pdf)
1 October to 31 December 2009 (109 KB, pdf)
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2006 to 2009 Reserve Capacity test reports
1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009 (330 KB, pdf)
1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 (38 KB, pdf)
1 July 2007 to 30 September 2007 (50 KB, pdf)
1 April 2007 to 30 July 2007 (53 KB, pdf)
21 September 2006 to 31 March 2007 (50 KB, pdf)
Further information
For further information about facility testing, please see the Market Procedure: Reserve Capacity Testing, and clause 4.25 and 4.25A of the Market Rules.