Paul was one of the founders of Global-Roam in February 2000. He is currently the CEO of the company and the principal author of WattClarity. Writing for WattClarity has become a natural extension of his work in understanding the electricity market, enabling him to lead the team in developing better software for clients.
Before co-founding the company, Paul worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the Queensland Electricity Commission in the early 1990s. He also gained international experience in Japan, the United States, Canada, the UK, and Argentina as part of his ES Cornwall Memorial Scholarship.
Having already noted the ‘Weakness in frequency stability on Thursday afternoon 16th October 2025’, we take a look at the causes - for the four high-profile dispatch intervals.
The worst periods of frequency stability on Thursday 16th October 2025 were *not* with the simultaneous trip of YWPS3 and YWPS4, but rather later and the day - and look similar to patterns seen...
Amongst the many emails that hit my inbox recently was an email from the AEMC that spoke to the ‘Package of ISP reform underway’ – and specifically these two arms.
Following my presentation at NEMdev 2025 (on 8th Oct 2025), here are some suggestions that the Nelson Review panel might consider - with respect to forecasting.
At 09:06 (NEM time) this ‘Notifications’ widget alert from ez2view flags Loy Yang A4 coming offline ... which helps explain the directions for System Strength.
No sooner had we noted that ‘AEMO changes mind, and directs Murray instead (to run as syncon) for System Strength in Victoria on Wednesday 15th October 2025’ then we receive MN129618 at 09:00 that helps...
Less than an hour after directing Jeeralang (for System Strength in Victoria), AEMO changes its mind and directs Murray instead. Though this was also short-lived!
As AEMO had telegraphed yesterday, just after 08:00 (NEM time) on Wednesday 15th October 2025, the AEMO issued Directions to various units at EnergyAustralia’s Jeeralang Power Station for System Strength in Victoria.
Worth noting two market notices today flagging possible intervention because of System Strength issues in Victoria tomorrow (Wednesday 15th October 2025).
It appears that there was some large(ish) trip in demand somewhere on the Queensland network, given the spike in frequency at ~07:28 on Tuesday 14th October 2025.
A short note to record a large-size drop in ‘Market Demand’ in the Queensland region on Tuesday morning 14th October 2025, as captured in this ez2view ‘Notification’ widget alert at 07:31 (NEM time).
A quick initial look at two lengthy periods of Non-Conformance at Aldoga Solar Farm on Sunday 12th October, with the first period seeing large negative Dispatch Error, and a blip in system frequency.
It was no surprise that social media lit up with reports of voltage fluctuations having been detected more recently on the Spanish Grid, as reported by Red Eléctrica (the TSO).