August 2023 Update
Welcome to SwitchDin’s August update!
We’ve collected some of this month's highlights.
In this newsletter:
Increasing the capacity of renewables in the Northern Territory
The Alice Springs Future Grid project has delivered the Northern Territory’s first Virtual Power Plant (VPP) through the Solar Connect VPP trial.
The project represents a significant step forward for the NT as it aimed to test the effectiveness of VPPs in keeping the grid stable while increasing the amount of clean energy in the local power system.
Alongside other project partners, the trial used SwitchDin's Stormcloud platform to link solar and battery systems across Alice Springs, allowing participants to track their energy generation, consumption, and storage.
As we move forward, the insights gained from this trial will inform the future needs and requirements of the energy transition and optimize the return on investment for residential rooftop solar and batteries.
Read more about the project's continued success and visit the live Stormcloud dashboard here.
Our head of customer success presents at South Australia’s Power Networks webinar
Our head of Customer Success, Will Kozinski, presented at South Australia’s Dynamic and Flexible Exports Requirements installer training webinar
To support the SA Government's new dynamic export requirements, installers were given the opportunity to learn and ask questions about the new changes.
The webinar’s incredible turnout emphasized the number of installers eager to take part in the transition to a cleaner, more efficient energy system.
If you missed out, you can learn more about our solutions here.
How data secrecy is stifling innovation in the renewable energy industry
Access to data held by electricity networks is a crucial ingredient for companies like SwitchDin that provide energy technology solutions for customers, distribution networks and energy retailers.
Following the United Kingdom’s core policy principle to ‘Presume Open’ all energy network data, we strongly support the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) review of the benefits of increased visibility of networks.
Currently in Australia, policymakers operate on the principle that energy network data is ‘Presumed Confidential’ unless a strong case for access can be proven.
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As regulated monopolies, distribution networks should not be able to invoke commercial confidentiality as a reason to prevent data access.
If the network data exists, is of usable quality and, can be made available at a relatively low cost, then it should be made available.
This would open networks to additional competition from non-network solutions, benefiting all consumers.
Learn more about our recommendations in our latest submission to the AER here.
SwitchDin supports the Australian Energy Regulator’s increased visibility of networks
SwitchDin is pleased to hear that the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has confirmed the importance of flexible export limits in managing congestion on distribution networks in the National Electricity Market (NEM).
However, effective implementation of these limits will require further regulatory reforms, including a framework for technical standards governing consumer energy resources (CER), a framework to facilitate improved access to metering data by customers and networks, binding guidelines for networks using dynamic export limits, changes to network rules to support investments needed for flexible exports, agreement on communication protocols and, rules and guidance to protect consumers.
The next critical steps in advancing flexible exports will involve finalizing the Australian Energy Market Commission's (AEMC) reviews of CER technical standards, metering services, and interoperability policy, as well as the AER's review of consumer protections for future energy services.
Learn more about flexible exports in the Australian Energy Regulator’s latest report here.
Downgraded VPP projections highlight the need for an interoperability policy
Rooftop solar and batteries are the largest hidden Renewable Energy Zones.
SwitchDin was pleased to see the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) plans to incorporate orchestrated distributed energy in its modelling for the upcoming Integrated System Plan (ISP).
AEMO’s ISP is a detailed plan of how the country’s main grid could transition to 100 per cent renewables.
Previous versions of the ISP have focused on building transmission lines. However, with transmission costs soaring and with some facing social licence issues, it makes perfect sense to consider how the coordination of distributed energy can help to reduce the need for more transmission lines.
Despite this progress made, AMEO's recent Electricity Statement of Opportunities has downgraded its predictions regarding the amount of distributed energy that can be effectively managed. This highlights the urgent need for a national policy on the interoperability of distributed energy. The longer we delay the implementation of such a policy, the fewer opportunities we will have to effectively manage distributed energy in the future.
Learn more about AEMO's latest ISP here.
Kind regards,
The SwitchDin Team