Virtual Power Plant Hookup Battery and Solar Storage in Many Adelaide Homes

A virtual power station is being created across Adelaide with the installation of solar panels and battery storage at hundreds of properties and user/owners will use the internet to share details of their storage data as reported by ABC News.

This $20 million trial is being done by energy company AGL, with $5 million of funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), thus effectively creating a 5-megawatt solar power station across Adelaide.

Customers who sign up for the trial pay more than $3,800 for a battery and must agree to a 5-year contract with AGL. The first release of 150 batteries was quickly sold out and the company plans to install an additional 350 across the metropolitan area, according to Elizabeth Brinton, AGL executive.

ARENA CEO, Ivor Frisckhnecht said the system would benefit both the customers involved and the wider power grid. There’s also a growing number of home energy storage batteries being installed in many households across Australia as the technology becomes more affordable and more efficient.

AGL stated that South Australia had some of the world’s highest levels of solar and wind power penetration, which made it an ideal testing ground for the latest concept.

Click here for the complete story on ABC News

Featured Image Credit: mjmonty