Market Overview:

The Northern Territory (NT) operates a series of small, isolated power systems rather than a single interconnected grid. These systems are not connected to the National Electricity Market (NEM) and are instead governed locally, with key oversight provided by the Utilities Commission and system operations managed by Power and Water Corporation. As the NT accelerates its transition to renewables—particularly solar—the region has introduced some of the most stringent Generator Performance Standards (GPS) in Australia.

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Implemented in 2020, these standards apply to all generators over 2 MW and were designed to ensure that increasing levels of renewable energy do not compromise system security or reliability. The rules require renewable generators to behave like scheduled generators, despite their inherently variable nature—posing a unique challenge for solar and other intermittent assets operating in remote, weather-sensitive conditions.

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How Proa Can Help:

Proa helps generators in the NT meet strict performance obligations and unlock the full value of renewable assets in a challenging operating environment.

• Forecasting & Dispatch: The GPS framework requires renewable generators to operate like scheduled assets—despite their variable nature. To meet this challenge, Proa developed and deployed one of the world’s first fully integrated Energy Management Systems (EMS) for hybrid solar and battery plants. By combining advanced forecasting with real-time control, the system pre-curtails solar output when needed and uses a co-located battery to smooth generation. This approach allows renewable generators to meet dispatch targets reliably and remain operational under tight regulatory conditions.