Major programs

AEMO has developed Research Priorities to inform the research community of specific research challenges facing AEMO in our role in enabling net-zero energy systems.

In collaboration with industry and government partners, AEMO has developed a tailored cyber security framework for the Australian energy sector – the Australian Energy Sector Cyber Security Framework (AESCSF). The 2020-21 program is underway, with industry engagement planned to commence in mid-April 2021.

In early 2021, AEMO and the Clean Energy Council (CEC) established the Connections Reform Initiative (CRI) to address concerns with delays and increasing complexity in connections to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

AEMO’s DER Register is a database of information about DER devices installed across Australia at residential or business locations, and is foundational to AEMO’s DER Program.

In August 2022, Energy Ministers agreed to take a range of actions to support a more secure, resilient and flexible east coast gas market.

AEMO Victoria Planning has published the Project Specification Consultation Report for the Eastern Victoria Grid Reinforcement RIT-T.

The Engineering Roadmaps are ongoing bodies of work which outline the critical engineering actions required to enable Australia’s largest power systems to securely and reliably operate with higher amounts of renewables.

AEMO is collaborating closely with a group of six system operators to focus on real-world, practical solutions to enable the operation of reliable, secure, high-renewable power systems.

AEMO Victorian Planning (AVP) is undertaking this Metropolitan Melbourne Voltage Management Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to assess the technical and economic benefit of credible options to manage over- and under-voltages in the metropolitan Melbourne area in Victoria.

In April-May 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Australian Energy Regulator (AER) and AEMO (the Market Bodies) undertook a process with stakeholders to prioritise the energy market regulatory program in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in recognition of the cumulative regulatory implementation burden or the increasing number of significant processes. The Roadmap will be revised periodically, as new AEMC rule change determinations and other relevant decisions are made.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), together with industry, is delivering a number of the Energy Security Board’s (ESB) Post 2025 and other energy market reforms.

As Australia’s energy mix transforms and the number of renewables connected to the grid grows exponentially, the electricity system must adapt to ensure all Australians continue to have reliable and secure energy.

AEMO and TransGrid are jointly undertaking the Victoria to New South Wales interconnector Upgrade Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to assess the technical and economic viability of alleviating power transfer capacity limitations between Victoria and New South Wales.

AEMO is undertaking the Victorian Reactive Power Support Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to assess the technical and economic benefits of delivering additional reactive power support in Victoria.

AEMO Victorian Planning (AVP) is undertaking the Victorian System Strength Requirement Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to address system strength requirements in Victoria from December 2025.

AEMO and Transgrid are jointly undertaking a RIT-T to assess the technical and economic viability of expanding interconnector capacity between Victoria and New South Wales, to address current limitations, in accordance with the National electricity Rules (NER).

AEMO’s WA DER Program will deliver the systems and processes to create the opportunity for all small scale ‘behind the meter’ devices, also known as Distributed Energy Resources (DER)

WA Reform is AEMO’s program of work to facilitate the energy transition in WA and coordinate the delivery of associated or interdependent projects.

AEMO Victorian Planning (AVP) is undertaking this Western Metropolitan Melbourne Reinforcement regulatory investment test for transmission (RIT-T) to assess the technical and economic benefit of credible options to maintain reliable and secure supply to the western metropolitan Melbourne area (including Geelong).

AEMO has completed a Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to assess the technical and economic viability of increasing transmission network capacity to address current limitations in the Western Victoria transmission network, in accordance with the National Electricity Rules (NER).

AEMO’s past major programs of work, including Power of Choice.