Paul Elliott
Manager Power System Operations (WA)
Australian Energy Market Operator
Western Australia
Paul has over 20 years experience in Power System Realtime Operations and Emergency management. Paul leads the AEMO WEM control room, which operates the electricity market and power system 24/7. Paul has been at the forefront of the AEMO's management of the energy transition, as the power system has seen significant increase in renewables contribution, in part due to the huge increase in distributed solar PV - with renewables now contributing over 80% of instantaneous demand with availability exceeding 100% at times. AEMO must manage the evolving power system, with a focus on ensuring the power system runs securely and reliably and that the market reflects those needs.
Paul has led Real-time Operations in Western Australia and the Northern Territory and has unique operational experience in managing extreme power system events, from record high load, record low loads, tight operating conditions due to plant availability, cyclones, floods and the 2014 Darwin/Katherine system black.
Speaker agenda and/or resources
Panel Session: The Future is Now: Flexible Power Systems in WA
FLEXIBLE POWER SYSTEMS IN WA
A CONVERSATION
Exploring the technologies, collaborations, and system thinking behind WA’s shift to flexible, low-emissions power
This session brings together leaders delivering and operating flexible, integrated power systems to explain how power systems are evolving to support a stable, low-emissions future—where gas, future fuels, storage and renewables work together. Rather than traditional project updates, speakers will share their views from their delivery experience - how integrated, hybrid solutions are being deployed across mining, regional, and interconnected systems. Hear how collaboration across infrastructure, OEM innovation, and system operations is enabling decarbonised energy at scale—including 24/7 mining, green iron, and Indigenous-led projects. While demand-side flexibility will be acknowledged, the focus is on the technical pathways and system thinking needed to scale renewable electrons and low-emissions molecules across Western Australia.
