The Commission has reviewed its licensing requirements for wind generators, set out in the 2005 Statement of Principles for Wind Generation Licensing, in light of the large amount of wind generation now connected to the South Australian power system, changes made to the National Electricity Rules and associated technical standards to better accommodate wind generation and continued high levels of interest in developing new wind generation projects in South Australia.
The Commission requested ESIPC to review the national developments and to provide advice as to what changes could or should be made to the Commission’s current licensing requirements in relation to wind generation. ESIPC provided its advice in September 200 and is attached to the Wind Generation Licensing Draft Proposals.
Publications
In December 2008, the Commission released a paper setting out proposals in relation to the wind generation licence conditions following receipt of advice from ESIPC on the impacts of the national changes which have occurred since 2005. The Paper is open for stakeholder comment until 20 February 2009.
The Proposals Paper outlined the manner in which the Commission proposed to modify existing wind generation licence conditions taking into account the number and size of wind generators operating, under construction, committed and in advanced planning in South Australia and in view of national developments to better incorporate wind generation into the national electricity market. The existing conditions have been applied since release by the Commission in September 2005 of a Statement of Principles for Wind Generation Licensing.
The Commission received seven submissions on its Draft Proposals which were referred to the ESIPC for review.
Submissions
The Commission, following receipt of advice from ESIPC on submissions received to the Commission’s Draft Proposals Paper has now prepared a Draft Decision Paper setting out the Commission's draft conclusions on wind generation licence conditions. It is considered that these conditions will ensure South Australia can continue to reap the benefits of increased wind generation capacity while at the same time ensuring that electricity system reliability issues are appropriately addressed.
Appendix 1 to the Draft Decision Paper incorporates the advice from ESIPC.
The Commission invites comments on the Draft Decision by 24 July 2009.
On the 6th July 2009, the Commission released a Statement of Clarification in relation to the fault ride through requirements contained in the Commission's Draft Decision on Licence Conditions for Wind Generators.
Publications
The Commission received ten submissions to the Draft Decision.
Submissions
The Commission has completed its review of South Australian Wind Generation Licensing arrangements. The review was conducted against the background of unprecedented amounts of wind–powered electricity generation being added to the South Australian power system or being planned for future addition.
The Commission’s present review has assessed special licence conditions in the context of recent national developments to better incorporate wind generation into the National Electricity Market, together with the scale of current and proposed wind generation projects in South Australia. The Commission has concluded that a measured and cautious approach to licensing wind generators in South Australia remains appropriate.
While some special licence conditions have been substantially removed for plant which is classified in the new category of “semi-scheduled”, the Commission has concluded that it remains appropriate to retain the special licence conditions relating to technical standards for reactive power and fault ride through. These conditions have, however, been amended to provide greater consistency with the National Electricity Rules, and to reflect advice received from the Australian Energy Market Operator.
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