New White Paper outlines how Australia can maintain power system stability as renewables and batteries replace coal-fired generation
As Australia moves to a renewable electricity supply, the foundations of power system security are being challenged and transformed. A new White Paper, Securing Power Systems in the Renewable Revolution, sets out a clear roadmap for navigating the next phase of the transition.
Released by the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub's Electrification and Energy Systems Network, UNSW Energy Institute and the University of Wollongong, the paper examines what a high-renewables future means for grid security. Australia's energy transition is not a leap into the dark.
Renewable penetration has already reached 70-80% at times, without compromising system security. Nationally, there are more than 4.3 million rooftop solar connections, alongside a rapidly growing battery ecosystem. But operating a highly renewable grid at scale, across seasons and under extreme conditions introduces new uncertainties.
UOW's contribution, led by Energy Futures Network Director Ty Christopher, focuses on the regulatory and systems-level transformation required to manage a grid increasingly governed by software and power electronics rather than traditional synchronous generators. A key concern is maintaining the grid's 'heartbeat', the steady frequency that keeps electricity stable, without traditional generators.
"At some point we have to ask whether we're still connecting new things to a legacy grid, or whether the new things are the grid. We're trying to manage a 21st century grid with 20th century regulation. Those rules were written for a system that simply no longer exists."
Ty Christopher, UOW Energy Futures Network Director
The White Paper sets out a national approach to electrification built on partnerships between industry, academia and government. It seeks to address the immediate, high-stakes challenges, while also establishing a framework to resolve longer-term strategic issues that affect a wide range of stakeholders. Its ultimate purpose is to provide a shared evidence base and clear priorities for those shaping the energy transformation.
"With the Australian Energy Market Operator last year highlighting emerging risks to system security, we need to quickly answer the unresolved questions in this paper to support the rapid rollout of renewables. With early investment and a national approach, I strongly believe that our homegrown ingenuity can solve these challenges to secure our energy future."
Dani Alexander, interim CEO, NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub and CEO, UNSW Energy Institute
