Powerlink, Bureau of Meteorology Partnership Aims To Deliver Better Transmission Planning

Powerlink and the Bureau of Meteorology have formed a partnership to deliver better weather-based planning and decision-making on Queensland’s transmission network.

Powerlink Chief Executive Paul Simshauser said the partnership signaled Powerlink’s commitment to working with the Bureau over the next three years to access specialized knowledge and data, as well as deliver targeted research.

“This partnership will give Powerlink insights into weather data, models and forecast trends that help us plan the future transmission network,” Simshauser said. “Energy demand and our ability to deliver safe, reliable and cost effective electricity supply to close to five million Queenslanders is closely linked to weather conditions and impacts.

Simshauser continued, in part: “[Formalizing] this partnership is a natural follow-on from Powerlink’s first research project with the Bureau which involves developing ‘near real-time’ solar irradiance information within Australia. This project, which commenced in June, builds Powerlink’s understanding of current and potential impacts from domestic solar PV units and large-scale renewables across the electricity network.”

Dr. Andrew Johnson, the Chief Executive of the Bureau of Meteorology, said the partnership is the Bureau's first with a transmission network operator.
"Weather and climate conditions are increasingly connected to the secure, safe and efficient operation of the energy grid, and this is never more evident than when it comes to the energy transmission network,” Johnson said. "This partnership will draw on the Bureau's expertise to drive solutions in priority areas to ensure the safe and reliable day-to-day operation of Powerlink’s network.”