Following the conclusion of the Pilbara Industry Roundtable (Roundtable) process in August 2023, the Western Australia Government has endorsed the Pilbara Energy Transition (PET) Plan. The PET Plan will continue the work program and consensus goals which participants published in the Roundtable Communique.
The current Pilbara Networks Rules (PNR) were designed around a power system that is based predominantly on dispatchable thermal generation comprised of gas turbines. Decarbonisation efforts will see a radical change in the types of technologies that are available to supply electricity as well as various system support services.
The Coordinator of Energy is undertaking the review of the current Pilbara Networks Rules (PNR), in consultation with stakeholders, to identify and implement any changes necessary to evolve the Pilbara Networks Rules (PNR).
The Evolution of the Pilbara Networks Rules aims to ensure the Rules enable and support efficient decarbonisation of the Pilbara electricity system. This includes any changes in the way system support services are provided.
The PAC established the Evolution of the Pilbara Networks Rules (EPNR) Working Group to support the review. Papers and detailed minutes of the EPNRWG meetings are published on the Evolution of the Pilbara Networks Rules Working Group and the relevant PAC papers and minutes are available here: Pilbara Advisory Committee.
The Evolution of the Pilbara Networks Rules project will be developed in four stages:
Stage 1 – Establishment of a new Pilbara Advisory Committee (PAC) working group to support this project;
Stage 2 – Scenario development and modelling to establish the likely trajectories that meet the decarbonisation goals for the Pilbara;
Stage 3 – Assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of the existing PNR against the Pilbara objectives, the decarbonisation goals for the Pilbara, and the trajectory and modelling outputs of Stage 2; and
Stage 4 – Implementation plan for any necessary changes to the PNR to continue to meet the Pilbara objectives in the context of the decarbonisation goals for the Pilbara.
