FACILITATING THE INTEGRATION OF WIND ENERGY INTO THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKET – THE ROLE OF MARKET DESIGN

摘要

Australia has been an early and enthusiastic adopter of market-based environmental regulation including one of the world’s first Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) schemes in 2001. It also has well over a decade’s experience of electricity industry restructuring and established a wholesale National Electricity Market (NEM) in 1999. Recent developments include the announced intention of greatly expanding the renewable energy target, and the imminent introduction of centralized wind forecasting and rule changes to more formally integrate wind farms into market processes. Australia therefore provides an interesting example for assessing different approaches to facilitating the integration of large wind penetrations into the electricity industry. This paper outlines experience to date with wind integration in the Australian National Electricity Market, and assess the possible implications of current policy developments.