Fast Frequency Response Frequently Asked Questions
Amendments to existing FCAS Registration
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Can AEMO confirm whether there will still be a bias in the faster contingency FCAS services (R1/L1 or R6/L6)?
AEMO confirms the bias (or ‘multiplier effect’) will be removed when version 8 of the Market Ancillary Services Specification comes into effect from 9 October 2023. For background regarding this change please refer to our MASS consultation page. It is expected that the maximum FCAS availability of a battery system participating in the Very Fast, Fast, Slow and Delayed FCAS markets will all be equal from 9 October, as the frequency bias is due to the multiplier effect.
Affected FCAS providers must submit a Schedule 3.1 Notification form or an application via AEMO’s Portfolio Management System by COB Friday 25 August, 6 weeks prior to version 8 of the Market Ancillary Services Specification coming into effect.
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I am unsure whether the maximum capacity in existing FCAS services needs to be amended for my facility. How can I determine this?
AEMO has published a technical FAQ document that addresses this question. Please reach out to us via email to ffrconsultation@aemo.com.au or via the Support Hub to clarify implications for specific facilities.
Affected FCAS providers must submit a Schedule 3.1 Notification form or an application via AEMO’s Portfolio Management System by COB Friday 25 August, 6 weeks prior to version 8 of the Market Ancillary Services Specification coming into effect.
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How will cost recovery for FCAS change based on this rule change?
The market arrangements for these new market ancillary services will be the same as those for the existing fast raise and fast lower services. This includes the arrangements for registration, scheduling, dispatch, pricing, settlement and cost allocation. See the Final rule for further background: Fast frequency response market ancillary service - Final Determination
Technical requirements for Very Fast FCAS
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How can I find out more about the technical requirements for registering and participating in Very Fast FCAS Services?
Supporting information is available at AEMO | Market ancillary services specification and FCAS verification tool. This includes an FAQ document, AEMO’s Market ancillary services specification, and other guides and tools. Participants with further questions are encouraged to contact AEMO via the Support Hub.
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How can participants assess their facility’s FCAS response in accordance with V8 of the MASS?
AEMO has published a draft version of the updated MASS FCAS verification tool which contains the calculations for Very Fast FCAS. An updated user guide for Version 6 of the verification tool is also available.
System changes
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Where can I find out more about modifications to the MMS data and Web portal?
Changes to the EMMS data model required to support FFR implementation were included in the May Release. These changes are documented in the EMMS Technical Specification.
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Where can I find out more about API and Markets Portal changes relevant to FCAS bids?
Sections 4.3, 4.5 and 4.6 of AEMO’s EMMS Technical Specification provide information about these changes.
The Bidding web interface includes two new service types: LOWER1SEC and RAISE1SEC, and the FTP JSON files now include two new columns: LOWER1SEC and RAISE1SEC.
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Is there any change in the settlement tables as a result of this initiative?
Changes to the EMMS data model required to support FFR implementation were included in the May Release. These changes are documented in the EMMS Technical Specification and include settlement table changes.
Market commencement & other
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What happens when there is a zero VF FCAS requirement?
You can expect to see periods of global L1 requirement being zero. In cases where the requirement is zero, NEMDE may choose to dispatch ‘free’ enablement (i.e. that offered at $0.00)
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Does FFR go-live align with trading date or settlement date? (e.g., will the first RAISE/LOWER1SEC enablement’s published be the 00:05 or 04:05 interval?)
The system solution will be live from the 9 October 2023 trading date. Please note AEMO are planning for the first, non-zero RAISE/LOWER1SEC requirements to occur at 1pm (market time) on 9 October 2023, effectively commencing market operation at this time.
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When is the earliest possible date/time where bids RAISE/LOWER1SEC products will be accepted/acknowledged?
The earliest possible date/time is 20th September 2023, however the actual time for registered participants will be between 20th and 25th September 2023. During this time period, AEMO will replicate participant registrations from pre-production to production.
Please note that AEMO plans to set RAISE/LOWER1SEC FCAS requirements (effective 9 October 2023 onwards) at the market commissioning value on 25th September 2023.
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What information can AEMO provide on how large the R1 FCAS requirement could become in low inertia scenarios?
AEMO has released a final version of the FFR Service Commencement Plan at AEMO | Fast Frequency Response, that provides some insight on indicative R1 requirement levels.
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How will AEMO be ensuring that sufficient capacity is registered and committed for VF FCAS market participation?
AEMO will evaluate market readiness for service commencement based on registration volumes and offers in place (as observed in pre-dispatch information).
AEMO’s FFR Go-Live Plan, scheduled for release in July 2023, will outline criteria for assessing whether sufficient capacity is registered and committed for VF FCAS market commencement. The criteria will be defined with the objective of avoiding extended periods of supply shortage.
The FFR Go-Live Plan will be communicated via AEMO’s Implementation forum.
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How will the Very Fast FCAS services be considered within AEMO’s annual inertia reports and the need to declare inertia shortfalls?
In determining the need to declare inertia shortfalls, AEMO will need to consider both requirements that must be met by inertia, and those that could be met by either inertia or very fast contingency FCAS. The latter would consider the maximum, typical, and reliable procurement volume available from the Very Fast FCAS markets – and AEMO intends that this is guided over time by observations of actual market behaviour.
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What other work does AEMO have underway with regards to the level of inertia needed across the NEM?
AEMO has recently published the Inertia in the NEM Explained report which represents AEMO’s technical view on inertia in the NEM at the time of publication (March 2023).
Following from this work, AEMO is currently scoping a small investigative project to expand on several findings of the paper. AEMO is not currently planning to prioritise further effort in 2023-24 to study the role of inertia in the future NEM but looks forward to engaging with stakeholders through the AEMC’s rule change process (with respect to the Inertia Spot Market Rule Change).
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What plans do AEMO have to ensure the load relief assumption (of 0.5%) within Contingency FCAS requirement calculations remains appropriate?
AEMO will provide an update on load relief observations this year, and will communicate any future intentions to update load relief assumptions at this time.
AEMO has periodically reviewed load relief observed during contingency events, and found that the load relief assumption of 0.5% remained appropriate. By means of example, AEMO reviewed the trip of Kogan Creek Power Station on 23 August 2020 and load relief was found to be 0.569%. Reporting of this event is contained within Frequency and Time Error Monitoring Quarter 3 2020.