Blueprint for the Future: Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market

Dr Alan Finkel AO, Chief Scientist, Chair of the Expert Panel, 2017

Ms Karen Moses FAICD, Ms Chloe Munro, Mr Terry Effeney, Professor Mary O’Kane AC

Final Report

Published 9 June 2017

Download

About the Blueprint for the Future

The Blueprint for the Future delivers a plan to maintain security and reliability in the National Electricity Market in light of the significant transition underway, including due to rapid technological change.

The blueprint sets out a vision for the future, with four key outcomes:

  • Increased security
  • Future reliability
  • Rewarding consumers
  • Lower emissions

The vision will be enabled by three key pillars:

  • An orderly transition
  • System planning
  • Stronger governance

In preparing the blueprint, the Expert Panel consulted widely, visiting regulators and operators across Europe and the United States and commissioning a review of best practices from the International Energy Agency.

In Australia, the Expert Panel held public and private consultations in every region of the National Electricity Market, undertaking over 120 individual meetings and receiving over 390 written submissions.

The Expert Panel would like to express its sincere gratitude to all those who made the time and effort to attend public forums, attend meetings, prepare submissions and provide counsel. The insights provided were invaluable in developing the blueprint. The Expert Panel is confident that adopting the blueprint will ensure the optimal functioning of Australia’s electricity system into the future.

Elements of the blueprint

The Blueprint for the Future delivers a plan to maintain security and reliability in the National Electricity Market (NEM) in light of the significant transition underway. Elements of the blueprint include stronger governance, increased system security, a reliable and low emissions electricity supply, an adequate and affordable gas supply, better system planning and rewarded consumers.

Supporting information

Report to the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market—Emissions mitigation policies (2017)

UPDATED 23 June 2017

The Panel commissioned Jacobs to model a range of emissions reduction policies for the National Electricity Market. These policies were modelled over the period FY2017-FY2050. The modelling provides key insights on the impacts different policies have on consumers as well as on the National Electricity Market’s generation and capacity mix.

Report to the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market—Emissions mitigation policies (PDF - 4.31 MB)
Report to the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market—Emissions mitigation policies (DOCX - 4.11 MB) ​

Power system security assessment of the future National Electricity Market (2017)

The Panel commissioned the Melbourne Energy Institute (MEI) to perform a security assessment of a selected set of the emissions reduction policies modelled by Jacobs. MEI’s report includes analysis on future power system security issues under the selected policies. MEI also analysed one of these policies further, looking at the minimum level of synchronous generation required to be online for the secure operation of the National Electricity Market.

Power system security assessment of the future National Electricity Market (2017) (PDF - 4.37 MB) ​

Further information

Alternate text for elements of the blueprint

Secure, reliable and affordable:

  • Increased system security
  • Delivering a reliable, low emissions electricity supply
  • Securing adequate and affordable gas supply
  • Better system planning
  • Rewarding consumers
  • Stronger governance