The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) recently announced funding for a trial of rooftop solar power systems with battery storage in a new estate in Alkimos Beach, north of Perth in Western Australia.
Synergy, Western Australia’s largest energy generator and retailer, will be provided $3.3 million in funding for the trial that involves 1.1MWh of centralised lithium ion battery storage with more than 100 residential rooftop solar PV arrays. Synergy will be executing the project in partnership with Alkimos Beach development partners Lend Lease and Landcorp.
“Combining storage and renewables has the potential to deliver significant savings to both consumers and developers by reducing grid connection costs for new homes,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht.
“The valuable technical and commercial insights gained from this project could help overcome regulatory barriers and prove the case for adding renewables into the residential planning process.”
The 4 year trial will begin in early 2016 and results will be shared with the broader energy industry. Total cost of the trial is approximately $6.7m over the period.
“Customers have been quick to realise the benefits of having solar PV on their roofs and the next wave of technology is likely to focus on energy storage. The proposition of being able to self-generate and store energy will be compelling to customers,” said Synergy CEO Jason Waters.
Lend Lease’s Tarun Gupta says every purchaser at Alkimos Beach receives an Energy Smart Home Package and as part of that; solar panels.
“This is a real coup for Alkimos Beach and we’re proud to be part of a trial that could help change the way energy is delivered to communities internationally,” he said.
Alkimos Beach has been awarded all six leaves of the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s EnviroDevelopment tool.
Not everyone is impressed with the announcement; even among the yay-solar team.
Business Spectator’s Tristan Edis feels the trial may be an example of the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. While this trial may be a first for Australia, the effectiveness of solar, storage and energy efficiency has already been quite well established elsewhere and relevant local/ overseas info is just a few keyboard strokes away.
“The problem is not the technology and it’s not a lack of information, it’s the utilities and the regulators,” he says.
