❓ A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about potential discrimination against private renewable energy generators regarding network access limitations compared to state-owned generators like the Albany wind farm. The Minister's answer clarifies that size dictates network impact studies and cost allocation, regardless of ownership.
AnsweredQoN 631Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Under the options for renewable energy network access proposed by Western Power, why are independent generators restricted to a maximum 10MW capacity?
(2) Why is the cumulative independent renewable capacity restricted to 35MW?
(3) Why are Western Power’s own renewable generators like the Albany wind farm, at 21MW size, not subject to the same restriction?
(4) Does the Minister consider that posing a restriction on private renewable generators which is not applied to State-owned generators is in fact discriminatory against private generators?
(2) Why is the cumulative independent renewable capacity restricted to 35MW?
(3) Why are Western Power’s own renewable generators like the Albany wind farm, at 21MW size, not subject to the same restriction?
(4) Does the Minister consider that posing a restriction on private renewable generators which is not applied to State-owned generators is in fact discriminatory against private generators?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 June 2002
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
40 days
(3) A small renewable energy generator seeking access under the proposed REAWG access regime is effectively assured that Network impact will not be a consideration in its approval. Albany Wind Farm, because of its size, was subject to a specific Network impact study and the associated ongoing additional load matching costs are absorbed by Western Power. This means that all renewable generators above 10MW are effectively treated the same. (4) Renewable energy generators above 10MW in size, irrespective of ownership, will be subject to Network impact studies, and individual Network access agreements will reflect the additional costs imposed on the system by that generator.
(4) Renewable energy generators above 10MW in size, irrespective of ownership, will be subject to Network impact studies, and individual Network access agreements will reflect the additional costs imposed on the system by that generator.
(4) Renewable energy generators above 10MW in size, irrespective of ownership, will be subject to Network impact studies, and individual Network access agreements will reflect the additional costs imposed on the system by that generator.
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