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AEMO ISF Aligned Synchronous Condenser Operations delivered for RATCH Australia at the Townsville Power Station
Overview
Energy One partnered with RATCH Australia to commission and operate the new Synchronous Condenser, a device that regulates voltage and strengthens grid stability, at Townsville Power Station. As the Nominated Participant in AEMO’s ISF Market Trial, Energy One implemented automation, integrated systems, and equipped the Synchronous Condenser (SynCon) to deliver critical grid-stability services for North Queensland in a more effective manner as per the new ISF rules and software model design.
The Company
RATCH Australia is a leading independent power producer, operating a diverse portfolio of renewable and gas-fired generation assets across Australia, supporting grid reliability and the energy transition.
The Challenge
Townsville Power Station’s new Synchronous Condenser needed upgraded operations to ensure accurate availability forecasting, timely AEMO enablement, and smooth coordination between market systems and site operations. The challenge was to create tools, processes, and visibility for reliable system-strength service as North Queensland’s energy mix evolves.
The Townsville SynCon project required a highly coordinated technical and market integration approach to ensure full alignment with the ISF requirements while maintaining operational flexibility. In partnership with RATCH Australia, we developed and implemented a SynCon solution that integrates directly into live market systems, support system strength objectives, and enhances grid security outcomes for the NEM. Delivering this capability required deep expertise across compliance, dispatch, and operational frameworks, ultimately demonstrating how advanced system strength assets can be successfully embedded within the NEM.
Lachlan Grose, Electricity Operations Lead, Energy One
The Solution
Energy One deployed advanced automation, process monitoring, and data integration tools to support SynCon operations at Townsville Power Station, providing:
- Advanced market-aligned operational models configured for SynCon behaviour and ISF requirements.
- Operational Visualisations for real-time and forecast availability.
- Automated Alerting for market events and enablement instructions.
- Updated Operations Manuals & Strategy to reflect new ISF aligned processes
Operational support, including acting as the Nominated Participant for ISF market trials and managing continuous AEMO coordination for Synchronous Condenser dispatch
The Implementation
Energy One worked with AEMO during the November ISF Market Trial, co-leading daily sessions and validating SynCon enablement processes via pre-production testing. Internally, the team deployed enhanced forecasting, market models, and workflows, and collaborated with the Townsville Power Station team to ensure readiness for AEMO and align documentation with ISF standards.
The Results
- Enhanced Grid Security: AEMO can now promptly enable the Synchronous Condenser to provide voltage regulation, inertia support, and short-circuit strength services for North Queensland’s power grid.
- Improved Operational Readiness: Townsville Power Station now receives five-minute resolution availability data for the Synchronous Condenser, improving operational visibility and precision in market submissions.
- Streamlined Coordination: Coordination is now standardised across Energy One’s trading desk, site team, and AEMO to enable rapid response to dispatch and enablement commands.
- New Asset Class Capability: This project marks Energy One’s inaugural direct operational role with Synchronous Condenser technology, creating a tested model for delivering ISF-aligned grid services in future project.
Our collaboration with RATCH Australia on the Townsville SynCon project reflects the best of what partnership in the energy sector can achieve. By combining RATCH Australia’s commitment to grid reliability with Energy One’s market operations expertise, we delivered a fully ISF aligned SynCon capability that strengthens system security for Queensland. This project showcases how close cooperation, shared ambition and technical excellence can accelerate the transition to a more stable and resilient energy future.
Damian Edwards, Business Unit Manager, Energy One
Case Study Highlights
Developed trading models, visualisations, automated alerts, and updated ISF aligned operational policies for Ratch’s Townsville Power Station.
Enabled the trading team to actively manage 5-minute actual and forecast SynCon availability for AEMO enablement.
Streamlined bid submission, outage reporting, and data exchange processes between Energy One’s trading team, the site team, and AEMO. Marked Energy One’s first operational responsibility for a SynCon, creating a repeatable model for future ISF-related services
