The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) today published the Draft 2022 Integrated System Plan (ISP), proposing a 30-year ‘optimal development path’ for electricity investment in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Since September 2020, AEMO has consulted with stakeholders, including policy makers, consumers and industry representatives, in preparing the Draft ISP.
After 18 months of consultation, stakeholders overwhelmingly nominated Step Change as the most likely future scenario. This scenario meets Australia’s net zero policy commitments, along with reflecting technology advancements, government ambitions and consumer preferences.
AEMO CEO, Daniel Westerman, said the significant changes already underway in the NEM have continued to accelerate in recent years, considerably exceeding forecasts in the 2020 ISP Central scenario.
“The Step Change scenario forecasts a rapid transformation in Australia’s National Electricity Market, consisting of a significant investment in renewable generation, storage and firming generation as coal plants exit, and improvements to transmission,” Mr Westerman said.
“In this scenario, the NEM will operate without coal generation by 2043. This requires a substantial increase in battery and pumped-hydro storage, hydrogen or gas-fired generation for peak demand, all complemented by a market that incentivises energy users to adjust demand based on system conditions.
“This transformation will efficiently deliver secure, reliable and affordable electricity while substantially contributing to national emissions objectives,” he said.
Enabling this efficient transition for the NEM is forecast to deliver $29 billion in net market benefits, returning 2.5 times the investment value.
“Investment confidence will be important to delivering benefits to consumers, as the transition described in all the scenarios will require significant investment. AEMO will be further consulting on this Draft ISP to ensure the final version provides appropriate signals for investment,” Mr Westerman said.
“It is essential that communities, governments and industry collaborate to meet the aspirations of consumers and the communities that will host new infrastructure.
“Without meaningful community consultation, projects will be delayed and become more expensive. Efficient delivery is also critical,” he said.
The Step Change (Central) scenario anticipates a transformation of the NEM to 2050 including:
- A near doubling of electricity consumed from the grid, to 330 terawatt hours (TWh) as transport, heating, cooking and industrial processes are electrified.
- Construction of nine times the NEM’s current utility-scale wind and solar generation capacity (from 15GW to 140GW).
- Installation of four times the current distributed PV capacity (from 15GW to 70GW), with most coupled with an energy storage system.
- Treble the firming capacity that can respond to a dispatch signal (including 30GW at utility scale.)
Stakeholder consultation on the Draft 2022 ISP, including public forums and written submissions, will be open until 11 February 2022, after which AEMO will finalise the 2022 ISP by 30 June 2022.