AEMO directed Powerlink to disconnect the Mt Emerald Wind Farm in Queensland on September 29. The market operator issued the formal direction to maintain system strength. AEMO issued a separate direction to Powerlink to disconnect the Mt Emerald Solar Farm. The market operator also issued a direction to a participant in the Queensland region on the same day. WattClarity stated that such units are frequently curtailed via constraint equations. This specific event required a manual intervention to manage grid stability.
The NEM spot price averaged $25.8/MWh on September 29, with Victoria recording a regional average of -$8.1/MWh. The highest price reached $138/MWh in South Australia at 01:50, while Tasmania recorded the lowest price of -$47/MWh at 12:30. Negative-price hours were large, with South Australia recording 25.7 hours, Victoria 25.3 hours and Tasmania 23.3 hours. New South Wales reached a demand peak of 8,973 MW at 18:35. Renewables generated 54.4 per cent of energy with an instantaneous peak of 75.5 per cent at 12:40, batteries discharged 14,992 MWh, and the RAISEREG frequency control ancillary service spiked for two intervals to peak at $1,009/MW in Tasmania.
AEMO published a suspect Lack of Reserve Level 3 condition for South Australia for October 1. The market notice forecast load shedding between 00:00 and 04:00. WattClarity noted the forecast was almost certainly spurious. AEMO subsequently published an update stating the suspect condition was reviewed and resolved. No LOR3 condition is currently forecast for the South Australian region. AEMO also published medium-term PASA results on September 29. The results identify that annual unserved energy exceeds the reliability standard in Victoria between September 2027 and September 2028.
Akaysha Energy achieved final commercial operations at the Waratah Super Battery in New South Wales on September 28. The 850 MW and 1,680 MWh facility is located at the former Munmorah coal plant site. The battery energy storage system utilises 288 Hitachi Energy power conversion systems. The facility provides System Integrity Protection Scheme services to bolster transmission capacity into the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong load centres. The project provides critical dispatchable capacity to the grid following the scheduled retirement of the Eraring Power Station.
Australian households installed a record number of rooftop solar systems and home batteries in the first half of 2026. The Clean Energy Council reported the milestone data in a new report. Households added 1,894 MW of new photovoltaic generation capacity during the six-month period. The installations included 8,691 MWh of energy storage capacity. Australians are installing rooftop solar and batteries at a record scale across the country.
Gamuda Australia and Yanara signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the first stage of the Mortlake Energy Hub in western Victoria. Energy-Storage.News reported the contract covers a 300 MW solar and storage project. Dutch clean energy developer Yanara appointed the Australian arm of Malaysian infrastructure giant Gamuda to deliver the proposed hybrid project. PV Magazine Australia reported the project integrates a 450 MW solar farm and a 600 MW and 2,400 MWh battery in the southwest of the state.
Hitachi Energy delivered six 500 kV shunt reactors for Transgrid. The delivery marks a key milestone in the construction of the 365-kilometre HumeLink transmission project. In New South Wales, plans to develop a $1.2 billion data centre in the Sydney suburb of Lane Cove have been dropped. The decision followed intense push-back from the local community regarding the facility located 20 metres from homes. NBN Co is testing flexible solar panel sleeves on its fixed wireless towers. The trial aims to provide backup power and maintain telecommunications services during electricity grid failures.
The September 28, 2016, system black event in South Australia resulted in a total state-wide power loss following a severe storm. The emergency prevented residents from accessing news broadcasts.
Brent Crude fell 8.7 per cent to US$96.14 a barrel. TTF Gas decreased 7.2 per cent to EUR68.14/MWh.
AER approved the Jemena Electricity Pricing and Services Plan for the 2026 to 2031 regulatory period. Jemena stated the determination will reduce distribution costs for customers. AEMO published a project assessment draft report for maintaining reliability of supply at the Atherton Tablelands and Cairns areas, with submissions closing on November 11. AEMO submitted a response to the ISP Review outlining its perspective on the evolving planning landscape. Endeavour Energy crews continued repair works following a severe wind storm, expecting to restore power to 90 per cent of impacted customers by 10pm.