NEMDE nightmares – parallel pathways and clashing constraints
Prompted by a question by a client in a training session for a new ez2view user, guest author Allan O'Neil has written 2,940 words to explain the price...
Transmission Development & Operations
Here we will collate articles (as we publish them, and remember to collate them in here) that relate to various aspects of the role of transmission in the energy transition .
Areas of interest include:
1) Design and construction
2) Operations
3) Outage planning and operations
4) Failure modes and rates
5) How to model transmission.
Whiplash from yo-yo-ing prices (and hence targets etc) on Wednesday morning 12th February 2025
Wednesday morning 12th February 2024 sees rapid and large oscillations in prices across all regions - which results from (and/or leads to) oscillations in output of many units....
PEC Stage 1 in operation – be careful what you wish for
Guest author Allan O'Neil looks at how operation of Project EnergyConnect Stage 1 may affect market outcomes, with some early indications that impacts won't be as straightforward as...
Bundey to Buronga (6F) line to be energised 0700 21st January 2025
AEMO noted (in MN123507) that 'The Bundey to Buronga 330kV (6F) line will be energised at 0700 hrs 21st January 2025.'
Mothballed diesel generators might be brought back in SA
SA Government has requested that two recently mothballed diesel power stations be eligible for provision of emergency reserves.
Buronga No.4 330kV synchronous condenser has been commissioned (as part of PEC)
AEMO says ... at 12:00 on Thursday 31st October 2024, the Buronga No.4 330kV synchronous condenser has been commissioned
Next stage of testing for PEC Stage 1 scheduled to begin tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 31st October 2024)
Prompted by a client question, here's a quick look at some of the Project Energy Connect (PEC Stage 1) related constraint sets.
Down for the count: eight separate transmission tower failure incidents in less than five years
A map of where the eight separate transmission tower incidents have occurred over the past five years.
Testing the Heywood interconnector on Friday 11th October 2024, as part of PEC Stage 1
A short note, recording MN118771 about testing for PEC stage 1.
A tale of two mega-projects: Project Energy Connect and Snowy 2.0 timelines (Part 2)
In the second half of this two-part case study we look at a timeline of the Snowy 2.0 project, and discuss the history of mega-projects in the NEM.
A tale of two mega-projects: Project Energy Connect and Snowy 2.0 timelines (Part 1)
A timeline of evolving expectations for the cost, benefits, and delivery dates for Project Energy Connect - following news of recent issues surrounding the project.
The Grattan report ‘Keeping the lights on’ is worth a read
Enroute to Melbourne today for the EUAA National Conference starting tomorrow, I grabbed some flight time to have a quick read through the Grattan Institute’s latest offering –...
We can’t say yet if grid-breaking thunderstorms are getting worse – but we shouldn’t wait to find out
Reflecting on the transmission tower failures in Victoria in February, a group of researchers from the University of Melbourne have put together this summary of what the long-term...
Convective downdrafts and high-voltage transmission lines
In light of another transmission tower collapse caused by convective wind gusts, we've invited wind loading expert Dr John Holmes to explain this phenomena.
Some *initial* headline questions following the transmission damage, unit trips & loss of load, initiated on Tuesday 13th February 2024
What happened yesterday (Tue 13th Feb 2024) in Victoria was a significant event in the history of the NEM - and the flow on effects will be felt...
Another tower collapse poses more questions about transmission
The sixth transmission tower failure within the NEM in almost four years, has prompted further questions about the physical network and its resilience to severe convective winds.
What’s happening around Wagga?
Guest author, Allan O'Neil, takes a detailed look at how VIC1-NSW1 transfer capability has been limited frequently due to constraints related to the 051 line in southern NSW,...
The VEPC paper ‘No longer lost in transmission’, and the AEMO response
An article today referencing the VEPC paper 'No longer lost in transmission' (about extended VNI-West, and the authors proposed alternative 'Plan B') and the AEMO's initial response.
How common are islandings and transmission tower failures in the NEM?
In light of recent events, Dan Lee does some digging to find historical incidences of islandings and transmission tower failures.
ESB releases Directions Paper with respect to Transmission Access Reform
Also today (Thursday 10th November 2022) the ESB has released a Directions Paper on Transmission Access Reform - including suggestions for both Investment Timeframe and Operational Timeframe.