Project Jupiter Lover Better VPP programs in WA

Federal funding has been advertised for a project in Western Australia, which allows more owners of solar panels and home batteries to join virtual power plants.

The southwestern interconnected system (SWIS) is the most important electricity network in Western Australia, serving an area from Albany in the south to Kalbarri in the north to Kalgoorlie in the east – and includes Perth.

Solar energy in the home is very popular in Swis, with about 40 percent of households with a roof terrace. Rooftop Solar alone met about 26% of Swis -el -demand last year, up from 25.2% by 2023.

Installations of home battery are also increasing, as is the recording of EVs. All of these are considered distributed energy resources or there-together with other devices, such as air conditioning and energy management systems in the home. The challenge is to integrate it all to play well with the electricity network, in what is Australia’s (and the world’s) largest isolated network.

To this end, the Australian Agency Agency Agency (Arena) has announced $ 20.8 million in financing for Western Power for the development of solutions focusing on operating -distributed energy resources within SWIS during an initiative called Project Jupiter¹.

“Project Jupiter will be the first Live there -Market Square in Australia, integrated with the wholesale market, marking an important milestone in Australia’s sustained transition,” said Arena CEO Darren Miller.

In addition to seeking orchestrating there, Arena says that Western Australians who join a VPP will be able to access retail products that support improved returns on their investments. And among the benefits of better networking² will be a pressure on electricity prices for all Swis households and businesses.

According to Western Power of Distribution Energy transition Andrew is blowing, all new distributed energy resources connected to Swis will be able to participate in a virtual power plant (VPP) in 2028.

Comment on Project Jupiter, Federal Assistant Minister of Climate Change and Energy and Member of Fremantle Said Josh Wilson:

“Our state is an ideal place to pioneer the roll -out of virtual power plants on scale. Just as we utilize the mineral resources in our large state, Project Jupiter will utilize WA’s incredible solar cell stays in a way that benefits everyone through lowering costs, improved network stability and lower carbon emissions. “

Building on (and learning of) project symphony

Project Jupiter will be aware of the results of the Project Symphony, a pilot VPP initiative in Western Australia, which ended in late 2023.

The project involved around 900 ders such as roof terrace, batteries, air conditioners and other appliances over 500 homes and businesses in Perth’s southern river area. Project Symphony had support from Energy Policy WA and received funding from the Arena during the Agency’s advancing Renewables program.

Among the recommendations due to project symphony were better communication – not only in relation to households and companies participating, but between project partners and even assets. One of the problems on the customer side was information about how the participants’ assets were used was missing. Most participants felt orchestration were poorly conveyed and was not well understood.

Participants were given pre -orchestration of orchestration, but the trial also showed a lack of clear financial visibility and payments exceeded the impact of the project. The lessons will inform the development of new products, customs and educational programs to support customer participation during the Jupiter project.

A final report on Experience from project symphony can be seen here.

Jupiter Image: Jean-Pol Grandmont | CC with 3.0

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