NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe and Wollongong MP Paul Scully discuss the Social Housing Virtual Power Plant pilot. Photo: NSW Government.
A select number of Illawarra social housing properties will have rooftop solar panels and batteries installed as part of an $11 million pilot program.
The Social Housing Virtual Power Plant pilot aims to help tenants save money on their power bills while creating a more reliable electricity network for the region, which is Australia’s first urban Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The pilot will install rooftop solar panels and batteries on selected social housing properties and connect them through a virtual power plant (VPP), which boosts the reliability of the electricity grid in the Illawarra.
Virtual power plants connect energy systems across multiple homes, allowing stored power to be used or exported when it is most valuable to households and the electricity grid.
The Federal Government will provide $10 million and the NSW Government $1 million towards the pilot.
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe said the government wanted more social housing tenants to share in the benefits of cheaper, cleaner energy.
“This $11 million pilot will show how rooftop solar, batteries and virtual power plant technology can help lower their bills,” she said.
“The Illawarra is Australia’s first urban Renewable Energy Zone, making it the ideal place to trial practical solutions that support households with the cost of living.”
The funding will be distributed through the NSW Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative which has already provided upgrades to about 400 homes in the Illawarra REZ, including the installation of 136 rooftop solar systems.
Keira MP and Illawarra Minister Ryan Park said the pilot program was a triple win for the region.
“It could help more of our social housing tenants access the benefits of solar and battery technology, reduce their energy bills and improve our energy reliability,” he said.
“This innovative initiative shows the Illawarra always steps up to play a vital role in shaping our renewable energy future.”
EnergyCo and the NSW Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Department are investigating how system installers and VPP operators can best work together to support a more reliable electricity network.
A market sounding survey is now open for solar and battery installers and virtual power plant operators to give feedback which will help shape the program’s design and delivery.
The outcomes will be used to identify the locations, housing characteristics and areas that may be appropriate to target during program delivery.
Interested operators should complete a survey on the EnergyCo website survey before 5 pm on Sunday 25 October.
