AEMO forecasts improved weather readings with Telvent

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has signed up with US-based IT information provider, Telvent, to support its energy demand forecasting system in 16 areas located in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, NSW and the ACT.

Telvent claimed its weather forecasting product will help AEMO’s system operations to manage the National Electricity Market (NEM) grid by improving load forecasting decisions.

Telvent chief executive, Ignacio Gonzalez, said the preferred weather forecast data system is used by 70 per cent of utility companies in the US and the contract win is the first for the company in Australia.

“Accurate temperature forecasts are a critical tool for utilities and electric market operations, determining how much energy is needed to meet consumer demand,” Gonzalez said.

“With this technology, accurate temperature forecasts will be reliably reported to AEMO, helping to maximise the value of its current services by enabling improved forecasting of demand and network constraints and in turn, improve the forecasting accuracy of spot prices and reserves.”

AEMO is a collaboration of six industry bodies from the electricity and gas markets, which merged in 2009 to create the Australian Energy Market Operator, and oversees system security of the NEM electricity grid and the Victorian gas transmission network.

AEMO consists of the following six companies:

• National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO)
• Victorian Energy Networks Corporation (VENCorp)
• Electricity Supply industry Planning Council (ESIPC)
• Retail Energy Market Company (REMCO)
• Gas Market Company (GMC)
• Gas Retail Market Operator (GRMO).

The contract was signed in anticipation of the start of Australian Engineering Week, which begins on 1 August and is designed to raise awareness about engineering and Australia’s environmental preservation efforts.

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