Electrical emergencies and outages
132 004

If you've lost power or want to report fallen powerlines

General enquiries
1300 137 008

For general enquiries, call from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

More contact numbers
Unexpected error

An unexpected error has occurred. Please re-enter the information submitted or call us on 1300 137 008.

Find out more 

Meeting System Strength Requirements

Overview 

System strength is a general term encapsulating a number of specific technical issues. Maintaining adequate levels of system strength across the network is important for ensuring the power system can operate normally, especially following a fault. 

The requirements for system strength can be significantly impacted by the connection of new wind and solar generators to the network. The way these technologies currently interact with and support the power system is fundamentally different to that of traditional synchronous generators, such as large coal or hydro machines.

Our role

TasNetworks is resolute in its commitment to power system security which underpins the delivery of safe and reliable services for our customers.

System strength is an evolving issue right across the National Electricity Market (NEM) as new technologies replace traditional generation.  As a result, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) introduced changes to the National Electricity Rules (NER), which require System Strength Service Providers, such as TasNetworks, to proactively plan for and pre-emptively provide sufficient system strength services right across their networks. 

TasNetworks is applying the Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) to determine the preferred solution to meet the new rule requirements.

Please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF) for more information on what TasNetworks is doing to ensure sufficient system strength is available across the Tasmanian power system to meet Tasmania’s renewable energy targets.

The Regulatory Investment Test for Transmission (RIT-T) Process

The RIT-T is designed to help identify the most appropriate future investment(s) needed to meet our system strength obligations, while ensuring that costs borne by network users are transparent and justifiable.

As part of this process, three main documents will be produced and consulted on: 

  1. The Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) published in August 2023 describes the need for investment, potential credible options to address the identified need, and technical information to encourage solutions from non-network proponents.
  2. The Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) describes the results of the technical and economic analysis and identifies the preferred option.
  3. The Project Assessment Conclusion Report (PACR) will confirm the preferred option and provides a summary of submissions and responses received during the PSCR and PADR.

The anticipated sequence of events for the RIT-T is shown below.
image shows the anticipated sequence of events for the RIT-T
 

We used responses received to our Project Specification Consultation Report (PSCR) and the parallel expression of interest process to inform what non-network solutions are likely to be available and to determine the most technically efficient and cost effective outcome for our customers.

In November 2024, we published the Project Assessment Draft Report (PADR) outlining that a non-network solution will be the most credible option to meeting system strength requirements in the short term for the period up to 2029.

The need for accompanying network solutions and other non-network solutions is expected to become clearer following further connection of inverter-based resources associated with the Tasmanian Renewable Energy Target and development of Marinus Link. We will continue to monitor technological developments and mature our understanding of future system strength needs, with the broad objectives of avoiding over-procurement, minimising operational complexity and keeping network costs as low as possible.

Consultation 

Project Assessment Draft Report

TasNetworks is hosting a stakeholder webinar on 25 November to provide an overview of the PADR, including an explanation of the technical and economic assessment undertaken to identify the preferred option.

TasNetworks is seeking stakeholder submissions on the various issues and preferred option to meet system strength requirements from 2 December 2025 to 2029 presented in the PADR.

Key Dates

Stakeholder Webinar: 25 November 2024

TasNetworks is seeking written submissions to the PADR over an 8 week period ending on Friday 10 January 2024.

Submissions in relation to the PADR can be sent directly to: regulation@tasnetworks.com.au.

A copy of the PADR can be found below.

For further information, please contact: Chris Noye (Leader Regulation) at Chris.Noye@tasnetworks.com.au. 

Next steps

We intend to publish a PACR in 2025 including:

  • Responses received to the PADR;
  • Updates to the technical and economic assessment presented in the PADR; and
  • The preferred option.

Further information