Voluntary Provision of Wind Farm Confidential Data for Public Researchers

Overview

The Australian Wind Energy Forecasting System (AWEFS) project was established in 2007 in response to the growth in intermittent generation in the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the increasing impact this growth was having on NEM forecasting.  This project was to develop a wind energy forecasting system and capability was financed through a grant from the Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET).  Phase A (Base System) of AWEFS was implemented and released for the NEM in November 2008, and wind generation forecasts were integrated with NEM dispatch and pricing.  

One of the objectives of the AWEFS project was provision for Australian public researchers to access wind farm data. This data would be used in research projects aimed at improving the forecasting capability of the system in such a way as to maximise the use of wind generation.

In line with this, AEMO has developed a way for wind farm owners/developers (wind farms) to provide  confidential wind farm data to public researchers in Australia on a voluntary basis.  The process involves electronic approvals and supply of the data. As a result of this process, two legal documents were developed as a standard form agreement between wind farm owners, public researchers and AEMO. These are:  AWEFS System Wind Farm Data Supply Deed and Wind Farm Data Confidentiality Deed Poll.

It should be noted that access to data from all wind farms may not be available.

Benefits

• Research by Australian public researchers could assist in improving the forecasting accuracy and development of additional tools that can assist in maintaining the accuracy of NEM dispatch and pricing;
• The benefit of these agreements is that neither wind farms who opt into the scheme, nor public researchers, have to sign multiple bilateral agreements;  and
• The electronic approvals and supply of data reduce the amount of administration and documentation required to enable this access.

Documents

The Wind Farm Data Supply Deed:

• describes the relationship between wind farms, public researchers and AEMO;
• outlines the conditions under which a wind farm agrees to supply the data to AEMO,  and permits AEMO to release it for the purpose of research conducted by public researchers in Australia;
• must be executed by each wind farm owner and AEMO.

The Wind Farm Confidentiality Deed Poll:

• is required if a public researcher seeks access to wind farm data;
• will need to be signed for the benefit of all wind farms prior to gaining access to data;  and
• will be signed by public researcher and AEMO

Wind Farm Data list:

• provides a list of all wind farm related data that could be released to public researchers on approval by the relevant wind farms.

AWEFS System Access and Licence Agreement:

• sets out the terms on which AEMO will make, on a no liability basis, the AWEFS system and AWEFS data available to public research bodies
• will be signed by public researcher and AEMO
• see ‘AWEFS System Access User manual for Public Researchers’ for further details

Process

AWEFS System Access and Licence Agreement will be signed by each public researcher who wishes to access wind farm data using the AWEFS system.  A critical element of this agreement is the Wind Farm Data Confidentiality Deed Poll that public researchers will also need to sign for the benefit of each wind farm prior to gaining access to the confidential data.  The supply of wind farm data by wind farms to AEMO will be governed by a Wind Farm Data Supply Deed, which outlines the conditions under which a wind farm agrees to supply the data to AEMO and permits AEMO to release it for the purpose of research conducted by public researchers in Australia.

Public researcher requests for access to wind farm confidential data can only be approved by the wind farms. A public researcher is required to submit a proposal to a wind farm owner outlining how the data being requested will be used (e.g. brief overview of the research being undertaken, expected outcomes of research). The wind farm can then approve or reject the request.

In the case of approval, the terms of the Wind Farm Data Confidentiality Deed Poll will apply, and the wind farm will have authorised access to the agreed data through the AWEFS access control system.

Summary

The data will be supplied only to public researchers in Australia who have signed the required agreements, and have had their submission for access approved by each affected wind farm.

For Wind Farms
Wind Farm Data Supply Deed
Wind Farm Confidentiality Deed Poll: (for information only)

For Public Researchers
AWEFS System Access and Licence Agreement
Wind Farm Confidentiality Deed Poll

The AEMO Information Centre should be the first point of contact for public researchers seeking to gain access.

Wind Farm Data Supply Deed 13 May 2010 | filename: 0116-0001.doc
Wind Farm Confidentiality Deed Poll 01 Jun 2010 | filename: 0116-0004.doc
AWEFS System Access and Licence Agreement 13 May 2010 | filename: 0116-0003.doc
AWEFS System Access User Manual for Public Researchers 13 May 2010 | filename: 0110-0054.pdf
Wind Farm Data list 13 May 2010 | filename: 0110-0055.pdf