New South Wales energy risks highlighted in Energy Security Taskforce report
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- Published: Wednesday, 20 December 2017 13:53
The NSW Energy Security Taskforce has published its final report into the resilience of the New South Wales electricity system, concluding that there are significant short terms risks that need addressing.
Established in February 2017, the Taskforce was given a remit to:
- Assess the risks to and resilience of the NSW electricity system (including the transmission and distribution networks), from extreme weather events in the context of a changing climate;
- Review the adequacy of the State’s management of electricity system security events including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery;
- Make recommendations on actions to address any vulnerabilities identified and/or opportunities for improvements in current practices.
The Taskforce report highlights short term risks to electricity supply, stating that “the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is warning that supply and demand are tightening and there are emerging risks that need to be managed. While a national way forward is emerging to provide investment certainty and mitigate these risks, the market impact of these reforms will take some time to be realised. Therefore, the NSW Government needs to be alive to the short-term risks over the coming summers and manage risks proactively when needed.”
The Taskforce makes nine formal recommendations in the report for improving NSW energy resilience and for mitigating the identified risks.
Read the report (PDF).