CIO50 2023 26-50 Gordon Dunsford, AEMO

Name: Gordon Dunsford
Title: Executive General Manager Digital / Chief information officer
Company: AEMO
Commenced role: January 2022
Reporting line: CEO
Member of the executive team: Yes
Technology Function: 800 staff including 450 permanent plus term/ contractors/ and partner staff, 8 direct reports

One of the most significant challenges of our generation and for all Australians is the energy transition. Energy is critical is all aspects of our lives, it underpins our community, economy and each of us daily in everything we do.

The barriers to entry into Australia’s energy system have always been very challenging. As the Nation transitions to a net zero emissions future ease of entry into the national energy grid and market must be is a priority. One major and priority hurdle to overcome is securing a new grid connection for renewable energy sources such as wind, solar to pumped hydro.

However, technology developed by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) aims to overcome barriers for organisations to invest in Australia’s energy system and help transition it away from traditional energy sources.

The Connections Simulation Tool is designed to help potential investors to simulate a grid connection, answer key questions, such as should they invest, where best to invest, and when best to invest, says AEMO executive general manager digital and chief information officer, Gordon Dunsford.

“The tool has removed perhaps one of the most significant barriers to organisations, investors and other stakeholders to entering the energy system,” Dunsford tells CIO Australia.

“It is a world first and uses the most advanced features of cloud native technologies to drive investment decisions in a raft of energy generations technologies, across solar, wind and other distributed energy resources, often called DER”.

Keeping the lights on

AEMO is a digital business that plans, manages and operates the power systems and energy markets for Australia across electricity and gas, but also other fast growing generation sources like solar, wind and pumped hydro.

“It is a quiet achiever, an organisation that ‘keeps the lights on’ for our nation,” says Dunsford.

Operating at the centre of Australia’s energy transition to a net-zero emissions and renewables future, AEMO is critical to enabling the country’s commitment to net zero by 2050 and climate change’.

“This is critical to the future of our community, economy and ultimately the environment.”

The Connections Simulation Tool is crucial to this work by enabling more operators to connect to the energy system to support this transition.

The tool provides developers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and consultants with the ability to run and fine-tune models before applying to AEMO for a new connection to the energy grid.

“The tool is an optional fee-for-use service that enables users to develop higher-quality models. It is independent of but will integrally support the connections process. Once used, submitted models may require fewer approval iterations and thereby reduce the time and cost to connect,” explains Dunsford.

The service aims to provide connection applicants with greater confidence in their studies and models support them to better design their connecting plant. 

It also promises a faster application process with AEMO and other oversight bodies.

“Utilising a full power system model will provide applicants with data and insights that will reduce the number of iterations required to complete the connections process. The approval process will therefore be streamlined reducing risk, cost and time,” says Dunsford.

Commercial and technical confidentiality is preserved throughout the simulation process. 

Supporting Australia’s net zero future

The Connections Simulation Tool is just the tip of the iceberg of a huge digital transformation underway at AEMO to support the future power systems and markets of Australia, says Dunsford.

“Already as CIO I have led a team that commenced market trials of an entirely new market system in Western Australia, the most significant change since the inception of the market in WA,” he says.

“This is a world first again in new digital systems to support the WA Government’s Net Zero ambitions.”

Meanwhile, in New South Wales AEMO has implemented systems to support a subsidiary which is auctioning and managing the build of a new power transmission network to the new Renewable Energy Zones on behalf of the NSW Government and community.

“Digitally enabling the energy transition for the nation is well underway, and delivering successful tangible results already including removing barriers to entry,” says Dunsford.

Internally, AEMO has launched what Dunsford calls Digital Evolve, which covers cyber uplift, new ways of working, data strategy, leveraging partners for scale and capacity, and new business support systems, including an ERP platform.

“These are all well underway, and in delivery,” he says.

“I’m prouder than I’ve ever been in my career, both in terms of what we are now actually doing and achieving, and how fast we are moving to support Australia’s net zero future. It’s such purposeful, important work, but done in such a smart and innovative way with great people that I’m proudly leading, with the Connections Simulation Tool just one example already achieved.”

Louis van Wyk