Powerlink Queensland has published a Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) to address system strength requirements in Queensland from December 2025.
System strength is a measure of the ability of the network to control the voltage both during steady state operation and in response to a network disturbance, such as a sudden change in generation or load, or fault on the network.
The Queensland energy system has historically comprised synchronous generation such as coal-fired generators, gas turbines and hydro-electric plants. These large synchronous generators have also provided various services as a by-product of their dispatch for energy, including system strength, to enable the power system to operate stably.
The transition of the energy system to renewable energy, particularly solar and wind generation, means that certain system services are less freely available and must be planned for and delivered by other means.
As the System Strength Service Provider for Queensland, Powerlink is required to take action to plan, procure and make available system strength services as set out in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO’s) annual System Strength Report.
Powerlink commenced the System Strength Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) in March 2023 with publication of a Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR).
The PADR is the second step in the RIT-T process and sets out Powerlink’s technical and economic assessment of credible options to address system strength requirements from December 2025 to December 2030. System strength services required to be made available beyond 2030 will be guided by AEMO’s annual System Strength Report forecasts.
The PADR also includes updated commercial parameters to guide future negotiations of system strength contracts.
Powerlink invites submissions on the PADR from proponents who consider they could offer a potential non-network option that is both economically and technically feasible by 2030. The PADR also includes an information request for new/existing proponents of non-network solutions to complete.
Submissions and responses to the information request are due by Friday, 20 December 2024.
The summary and full PADR documents are available below.
Project Assessment Draft report Summary
Project Assessment Draft report
Notice of extension
Project Specification Consultation Report
Project Specification Consultation Report Submissions
System strength unit prices rule change proposal consultation
In the context of engagement activities with consumers and the general community, Powerlink has assessed this project as ‘complex’ on the RIT-T stakeholder engagement matrix.