Update to Wholesale Market Gas Quality Monitoring Procedures

Timeline

Overview

In December 2023, AEMO released its update to the Wholesale Market Gas Quality Monitoring Procedures in accordance with the AEMC’s review into extending the regulatory frameworks to hydrogen and renewable gases. In the Wholesale Market Gas Quality Monitoring Procedures (Procedures), AEMO specifically stated:

AEMO notes that these new gas quality monitoring procedures incorporate primary gases (e.g. Hydrogen) that are not part of the standard gas quality specifications. Participants should be aware that a future update to the standard gas quality specifications (including an update to AS 4564 or modification by a regulatory instrument) to incorporate primary gases may require further consultation and updates to these Procedures.

AEMO has made reasonable endeavours to take into consideration potential changes to the Australian Standards based on information provided from industry and the Future Fuels CRC. However, AEMO notes that if the Australian Standards are changed and this is required to be reflected within these Procedures, that gas quality monitoring systems may also need to change over time to reflect the updated standards.

This clause was added to the Procedures, as Part 19 of the National Gas Rules define the standard gas quality specifications as:

(a) the gas quality specifications contained in AS 4564 – 2005 (as amended or replaced from time to time); or

(b) if those gas quality specifications have been added to or otherwise modified by or under applicable legislation (principal or subordinate) of the Commonwealth or a State – those gas quality specifications as added to or otherwise modified.

On 13 June 2025, Standards Australia published AS4564:2025 General-purpose natural gas and natural gas equivalents. This amendment to AS4564 was implemented to facilitate the incorporation of renewable gas including hydrogen and biomethane. This consultation is to implement amendments to the Wholesale Gas Quality Monitoring Procedures for consistency with AS4564:2025.