From Dublin to Down Under: control rooms, transition points and the future of power system security – a chat with Yvonne Coughlan
In this first episode of our three-part series on power system security, new AEMO on Air host Nij is joined by Yvonne Coughlan, one of our Group Managers in Operations.Yvonne shares her journey from working across European power systems, including her time at Ireland’s system and market operator, EirGrid, to her work at AEMO.She reflects on the parallels and differences in global energy transitions in a conversation that explores transition point planning, what life is like inside a control room, and how AEMO is preparing for the accelerating energy transition.Interviewer: Dr Niraj (Nij) Lal LinkedIn | X | Facebook
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Reliability Outlook improves: the ESOO’s 10-year investment snapshot
AEMO's annual Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) harnesses the latest data from the energy sector to deliver a 10-year look ahead at the investments needed to support reliability in the National Electricity Market (NEM).In this episode of AEMO On Air, Ben Jones, our Manager of Reliability Forecasting, explains how the delivery of all projects in the investment pipeline – generation, storage, transmission and the enablement of consumer energy resources – are needed to meet reliability standards for the coming decade, as outlined in the 2025 ESOO.Learn more about the 2025 ESOO here: http://bit.ly/4m41FBSInterviewer: Catie LowLinkedIn | X | Facebook
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Building the 2026 ISP: Developing a very different Integrated System Plan in 2026
In July we hit the half-way mark in the development of the 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) with the publication of a number of key reports, including the Inputs, Assumptions and Scenarios Report (IASR) and the new Gas Infrastructure Options Report (GIOR).The ISP is the strategic roadmap for Australia's National Electricity Market (NEM) and it outlines the investment and infrastructure required to meet government emissions and renewable energy targets and keep the lights on and the gas flowing.In this episode of AEMO On Air, we talk to AEMO's outgoing EGM System Design, Merryn York (AM) about the development of the ISP and how the 2026 ISP will be different to the 2024 edition, including new gas considerations as well as consumer energy resources.Merryn shares her rich experience and deep understanding of key issues, such as the role of government policy in the ISP as well as how consumers and new technologies are factored and modeled in this important report.Read more about the 2026 ISP here: http://bit.ly/3VpxKc5Interviewer: Catie LowLinkedIn | X | Facebook
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Inside Q2 2025’s QED: Renewables soar, batteries charge up and emissions fall
AEMO’s latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report shows renewable energy reached new highs in Q2 2025 across both the National Electricity Market (NEM) and Western Australia’s Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM).In this episode of AEMO On Air, AEMO’s Manager of Market Insights, Kerry Galloway, unpacks the data behind a 38% renewable share in the NEM, record contributions in the WEM, and a major lift in battery output across both systems.Kerry also explores how outages and variable conditions in June affected prices and increased reliance on gas-fired generation, and how emissions continued to fall despite rising demand.Plus, what’s ahead for Australia’s energy future, with more than 53 GW of projects still progressing through the connection pipeline?Read the QED here: http://bit.ly/45b7wyx Interviewer: Catie LowLinkedIn | X | Facebook
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From solar cell physics to energy security: Meet your new host Dr Nij Lal
In this week’s episode of AEMO On Air, we welcome our new host, Dr Niraj (Nij) Lal – a Principal in the Future Energy Systems Group in AEMO System Design. A passionate science communicator and energy expert, Nij is also a Visiting Fellow at ANU and a familiar voice to many Australian families through the ABC’s children’s science podcast ‘Imagine This’, as well as through his work on ‘Play School’, and ‘Catalyst’ programs. In this episode, Nij shares his journey from solar cell physics at Cambridge to system planning at AEMO, what inspired him to join AEMO, and how his team contributes to managing Australia’s energy transition. He also breaks down the vital role of system security in keeping our energy system reliable – and gives a preview of the next three episodes he’ll be hosting. Whether you’re an industry insider or simply energy curious, this episode is the perfect place to start. Interviewer: Catie LowCatch-up on our Transition for System Security episode here: www.buzzsprout.com/2319637/episodes/16666835Listen to Nij on ABC’s ‘Imagine This’ podcast here: www.abc.net.au/kidslisten/programs/imagine-thisLinkedIn | X | Facebook
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