According to Audrey Zibelman, new chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Australia can manage the risks of its rapid shift to renewable energy by managing demand and taking better control over rooftop solar output. She also said the country was at the forefront of efforts to integrate renewable energy into an existing electricity network.
She also said that managing peak demand and improving data to tap energy from rooftop solar and batteries should limit the need for new generation and keep prices from going up.
Zibelman plans to focus her efforts on making sure the national grid is secure and reliable ahead of next summer. This follows a blazing summer when there were 6 power outages across different parts of eastern Australia. After that, she plans to look at how market rules should be changed to deal with rapidly evolving technology and the continued growth of renewable energy.