AEMO prepares Aussie power grid for more renewables

The plan states 29 priority actions for the year.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has published its engineering roadmap for fiscal year (FY) 2026 which aims to prepare the country for more renewables capacity.

In a statement, AEMO said the Engineering Roadmap FY2026 Priority Actions report outlines 29 priority actions for the next 12 months to support the transition to a low emissions power system in the National Electricity Market (NEM) and Western Australia’s South-West Interconnected System (SWIS).

“A key priority over the next 12 months will involve advancing understanding of future technology capabilities, including grid-forming batteries to support power system security,” said AEMO Executive General Manager System Design Merryn York.

“Other priorities include enabling further integration of consumer energy resources (CER), uplifting AEMO’s operational capabilities, and preparing for transition points such as coal retirements,” York added.

Last year, AEMO delivered more than 33 out of 37 activities for the NEM, including providing technical guidance on grid-forming batteries, and conducting analysis of power system operation with reduced coal-fired generation.

These activities were supported by a $15m Australian Renewable Energy Agency grant from 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2025.