Australian Energy Market Operator Report Update

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I rise to inform the house of an updated report from the Australian Energy Market Operator on the black system event in South Australia on 28 September 2016. The report, which updates the 5 October preliminary report, further details the events of 28 September and the resulting blackout. The report finds that on the afternoon of 28 September 2016, a weather front, including high winds, thunderstorms, lightning strikes, hail and heavy rain, moved through South Australia. Five transmission line faults occurred in 88 seconds prior to the system black, causing six voltage disturbances.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Please ask me a question. In terms of wind farm operation, it is important to note AEMO reports that intermittency was not a material factor in the system black; rather, it was their protection system's responses to the voltage disturbances. The sudden loss of the 445 megawatts of generation from nine of the 13 operating wind farms increased flows on the Heywood interconnector. The interconnector's automatic loss of synchronism protection then operated, which disconnected it so as to prevent damage. The loss of 900 megawatts of supply across the Heywood interconnector could not be met by remaining operating generation in South Australia.

This updated report from AEMO confirms that the intermittent nature of wind energy had nothing to do with the September blackout in South Australia; instead, it states that wind farms operating in the market at the time experienced a software issue.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The report is public.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I don't think you have.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The members for Adelaide and Morialta are called to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Ask me a question.

Mr Marshall: Wouldn't understand the answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Ask me a question.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, move a motion.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer will stick to the ministerial statement that he has tabled and had distributed.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This updated report from AEMO confirms that the intermittent nature of wind energy had nothing to do with the September blackout in South Australia; instead, it states that the wind farms operating in the market at the time experienced a software issue. There are a number of political opportunists that now owe—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker. I move:

That leave be withdrawn.

The SPEAKER: It requires only one person to withdraw leave, and that person is the deputy leader and the member for Bragg.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is called to order, and I notice under the mandatory minimum sentencing regime his next naming will lead to his absence from us for 11 days.