Morrison government backs trial to make virtual power plants a reality

Small amounts of energy fed into the grid by individual household rooftop solar systems could be harnessed into a much larger “virtual power plant” that will bolster the national energy network at times of high demand.

Australians have embraced the rooftop solar revolution.

The Morrison government is co-funding a trial of software that could control the release of small-scale energy from hundreds of thousands of household solar and battery systems so that it is fed into the grid when it is most needed.

Read the story from The Age by Adam Carey - “Morrison government backs trial to make virtual power plants a reality.”

Electric vehicles and smart meters combine to make a mobile powerplant

We know that electric cars can act as a mobile battery by discharging energy back into the grid.

One of the barriers for EVs in Australia is a lack of charging infrastructure.

When plugged in during peak demand times, it helps reduce high electricity prices and smooth out power spikes.

But what if real-time data and artificial intelligence allowed us to follow and predict price movements to see when the price may be high and act accordingly? That's what's now on the cards.

Read Cole Latimer’s story from The Age - “Electric vehicles and smart meters combine to make a mobile powerplant."

Solar providing more power than Hazelwood

Rooftop solar installations are now providing more power to the grid than the Hazelwood power plant did.

The growth in rooftop solar has helped offset power bills.

Green Energy Markets said the output from solar installations into the National Electricity Market was greater than the now-closed Hazelwood brown coal-fired power station.

Read Cole Latimer’s story from The Age - “Solar providing more power than Hazelwood."