An interactive tool developed by ISF in 2014-17 continues to provide free data to assist the energy industry in planning for the future.
The Network Opportunity Maps (NOM) show clear, consistent data to allow the ecosystem of new energy service providers to readily identify opportunities for developing distributed renewables, energy storage, energy efficiency and other alternatives to building new poles and wires. This will help to address network constraints and reduce customer costs. The maps also help to guide the growing number of communities looking for sustainable solutions to their power problems towards efficient locations for new projects and initiatives.
Recently the NOM were updated to include refreshed datasets for distribution network businesses in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). This release continues the trend towards greater downloadability, with new spatial files to enable users to integrate the data into more easily into their workflows.
ISF researcher Ed Langham, who was part of the project team that developed the NOM, emphasised the tool’s clear and consistent format for presenting complex data as being of utmost importance to its success in helping to guide the transition to greener energy solutions.
He notes that the NOM is unique in that it “…produces the only freely available network investment and planning data in consistent format across different network businesses. Consistent and visible data helps to streamline and stimulate market development for distributed energy opportunities, to accelerate the transition to an efficient, reliable and low carbon grid.”
As a live resource, the NOM will continue to be maintained and updated by ISF in partnership with Energy Networks Australia. Download data here or explore a ‘data story’ walking you through the updated constraint maps on the AREMI platform here. The next update will be in the first half of 2021 as a combined release for transmission and distribution businesses.