Power System Operator Competency Alliance
Building capability for Australia’s evolving power system. Industry informs the priorities – AEMO and RelyOn
work with industry to develop the capability solutions.
11 initial modules developed as part of the Phase 2 pilot, using adaptive digital learning technology for flexible learning across generation, transmission and distribution.
01.
Electricity Networks and Elements of Electrical Power Systems
Understand the structure, function and interaction of the major elements of Australia’s electricity networks.
02.
Renewables and Emerging Technologies
Explore renewable generation, storage and emerging technologies and their impact on power system operations.
03.
Electrical Fundamentals – AC
Build or refresh the essential AC electrical principles underpinning power system
operations.
04.
Electrical Fundamentals – Basic Electrical Computational Problems
Apply fundamental electrical concepts and calculations in power system
environments.
05.
Protection Fundamentals
Understand the purpose and principles of electrical protection systems and their role
in maintaining system safety and reliability.
06.
Switching Fundamentals
Explore the principles, terminology and operational considerations associated with electrical switching.
07.
Management and Coordination of Work Parties and Field Operators
Understand the communication and operational interfaces between control rooms,
work parties and field personnel.
08.
Voltage Control and Reactive Power
Understand voltage behaviour, reactive power and the principles used to manage voltage across the power system.
09.
Power Control and the Energy Market
Explore the relationship between physical power system operations and Australia’s electricity market.
10.
Human Factors – Communications
Explore how effective communication supports safe and reliable operations in
complex and high-consequence environments.
11.
Human Factors – Decision Making and Situational Awareness
Understand the human factors that influence operational decision-making, situational
awareness and performance.
Help determine what we develop next
The first 11 modules are the starting point.
Future content will be informed by industry consultation, changes in the power system and priorities identified through the National Training Framework.
Want to contribute?
Courses under development:
A common framework for Power System Operator capability
The Power System Operator Training Framework provides a structured view of capability requirements across generation, transmission and distribution and across fundamental, standard and advanced levels.
It is designed as a living framework that can evolve as technology, operating environments and industry capability requirements change.
The Framework provides the foundation for identifying common development priorities while allowing organisations to retain their own operational procedures, authorisations, systems and site-specific competency requirements.
Explore the National Training Framework
Tell us what you’d like to see next
A Competency Alliance approach
The Power System Operator Competency Alliance is built on a simple principle: where capability needs are shared across an industry, there is value in solving them together.
The approach draws on The Competency Alliance, originally established as PetroSkills and now part of RelyOn. Its model brings industry participants together to identify common competency needs, establish priorities and develop shared learning and competency solutions.
For Australia’s power sector, the same approach creates an ongoing development cycle:
- Engage with industry
- Identify priorities
- Develop and validate
- Publish and deploy
- Review and evolve
AEMO and RelyOn will continue consulting with Power System Operators and organisations across generation, transmission and distribution to help determine the future direction of the platform and the topics developed.
Help shape the Alliance
What capability gaps are emerging in your organisation?
What technical or operational topics should be prioritised next?
Other topics you might like
Explore related RelyOn electrical and power system learning.
High Voltage Awareness
Understand HV hazards, equipment and the principles required to work safely around high-voltage electrical systems.
Arc Flash Awareness
Understand arc flash hazards, risks and the controls used to protect people working around electrical equipment.
Electrical Codes and Regulations – Australian Standards
Build knowledge of the Australian standards and regulatory environment relevant to
electrical work and infrastructure.
Electrical Fundamentals
Develop the electrical knowledge underpinning safe and effective operation of modern electrical systems.
AEMO framework
Power Systems Operations proposed modules
Fundamental Modules
- 1.1 Australian Networks and Elements of Electrical Power Systems.
- 1.2 Renewables and Emerging Technologies.
- 1.3 Communication Technologies.
- 1.4. Legislation and Regulation Overview.
- 1.5. Electrical Fundamentals – DC.
- 1.6. Electrical Fundamentals – AC.
- 1.7. Electrical Fundamentals – Use drawings, schedules, codes,
and specification - 1.8. Electrical Fundamentals –
Electromagnetics - 1.9. Electrical Fundamentals – basic electrical
computational problems. - 1.10. Electrical Fundamentals – Provide engineering solutions to problems in
complex polyphase power circuits. - 1.11. Electrical Fundamentals – Electrical measurements
- 1.12. Protection Fundamentals
- 1.13. Switching Fundamentals
- 1.14. Management and coordination of work parties and field operators
- 1.15. Voltage Control and Reactive Power
- 1.16. Reliability Operating Limits and Reliability
- 1.17. Power Control and the Energy Market
- 1.18. Emergency Operations
- 1.19. Resource and Demand Balancing
- 1.20. Human Factors – Effective Communications
- 1.21. Human Factors – Fatigue and Fatigue Management
- 1.22. Human Factors – Human Machine Interface
- 1.23. Human Factors – Decision making and degradation factors
Standard Modules +
Transmission +
- 2.1 System Ride Through
- 2.2 Power System Disturbance and Contingency Response
- 2.3 Coordination
- 2.4 Power System Stability
- 2.5 Fault Finding and Management
- 2.6 Monitor and control field staff
- 2.7 Respond to protection operations
- 2.8 Develop switching programs
- 2.9 Operate and monitor system SCADA
Distribution +
- 3.1 System Ride Through
- 3.2 Power System Disturbance and Contingency Response
- 3.3 Coordination
- 3.4 Power System Stability
- 3.5 Fault Finding and Management
- 3.6 Transmission Operations
- 3.7 Monitor and control field staff
- 3.8 Respond to protection operations
- 3.9 Develop switching programs
- 3.10 Operate and monitor system SCADA
Generation +
- 4.1 System Ride Through
- 4.2 Power System Disturbance and Contingency Response
- 4.3 Coordination
- 4.4 Energy Market Services
- 4.5 Fault Finding and Management
- 4.6 Monitor and control operations staff
- 4.7 Respond to protection operations
- 4.8 Operate and monitor generation system
Advanced Modules ++
Transmission ++
- 5.1 Synchrophases
- 5.2 Transmission Planning
- 5.3 Facilities Design, Connections and
Maintenance - 5.4 Power System Simulation
- 5.5 Power System Restoration
- 5.6 Cyber Infrastructure and Security
- 5.7 Respond to complex protection
operations - 5.8 Lead and coordinate a control room
- 5.9 Transmission Congestion
Distribution ++
- 6.1 Power System Simulation
- 6.2 Power System Restoration
- 6.3 Cyber Infrastructure and Security
- 6.4 Respond to complex protection operations
- 6.5 Lead and coordinate a control room
- 6.6 Design and interface of Distributed Energy
Resources on the Distribution Network - 7.1 Transmission Congestion
Generation ++
- 7.2 Power System Restoration
- 7.3 Cyber Infrastructure and Security
- 7.4 Respond to complex protection operations
- 7.5 Lead and coordinate a control room
Building capability together
The Power System Operator Competency Alliance creates a shared platform for AEMO, RelyOn and industry to respond to changing capability needs across Australia’s power system.
