Why are Virtual Power Plants (#VPP) key to greener and cheaper energy for all? And why is joining a VPP a “no-brainer” for anyone who has solar + battery? Discover Energy’s National Sales Manager, Manbeena Sethi and VPP Solutions Architect, Neal Harris, talk to Claudette Palomares about the many benefits of VPP – both for the individual homeowner and for the community at large.
To learn more about the Discover Energy VPP visit: https://www.discoverenergy.com.au/vpp , call 1300 946 898 or email sales_vpp@discoverenergy.com.au
Full Transcript below:
Claudette: Welcome to Discover Energy VPP Tech Talk, my name is Claudette and I’m the VPP Marketing Specialist here at Discover Energy and I’m with Manbeena, VPP National Sales Manager of Discover Energy and Neal, VPP Solutions Architect for Discover Energy. Welcome guys, thanks !
Manbeena: Glad to be here
Neal: Thanks Claudette.
Claudette: As you both know, over the past few years, batteries have increasingly become a byword for the future of household energy. In fact in 2020, we’ve seen more than 110,000 batteries installed in households around Australia. But another concept is increasingly becoming a buzzword are Virtual power plants or VPPs.
Manbeena, can I ask, what is a virtual power plant and what does it have to do with batteries?
Mabeena: Virtual Power Plant is what it says on the box. It’s a power plant or energy generating source that produces and delivers electricity digitally or virtually. Virtual Power Plants in particular refer to a network of distributed energy resources that is brought together to deliver aggregate energy. For most VPPs these come from batteries.
At Discover Energy, we use cloud-based software to link hundreds of household batteries together to deliver a powerful amount of renewable energy back to the grid during times of high demand.
Claudette: Thanks Manbeena for your explanation. Neal, around the country there have been a number of VPP programs emerging, as well as increasing integration and representation of VPPs in the electricity market and in industry reform.
Why are VPPs good for the electricity market – basically why are VPP’s a good thing for all of us – not just battery owners?
Neal: We know from an operational and environmental perspective, Australia’s current infrastructure for producing and delivering energy is unsustainable. This is why regulatory bodies, corporations and disruptors like Discover Energy are working to create new and viable ways to support the transition to renewable energy.
Control of battery storage is best when it’s coordinated with the energy system; whether that’s the markets or for the benefit of grid security and VPPs provide this coordination. This means that network costs can be significantly reduced – which means cheaper, cleaner energy for everyone.
Claudette: Some customers in Queensland and South Australia will be acquainted with peak reduction programs, how do these relate to virtual power plants?
Neal: While VPPs are typically associated with batteries, going forward there are going to be many more assets and functions that can be included. Some of these are already being implemented in isolated cases as you have just mentioned.
The idea behind a VPP is to integrate all of these functions in one platform in order to streamline customer experiences in an increasingly complicated energy world.
Claudette: Thanks Neal for your insights. Manbeena, there are obviously many advantages to VPP from a community perspective but what about the individual homeowner with solar and battery.
Why is joining a VPP so important?
Manbeena: Thanks Claudette, there are a number of reasons why joining a VPP is so beneficial for a homeowner with a solar battery, or a homeowner looking to install solar and battery. And some of these benefits are specific to the Discover Energy VPP program.
Firstly, joining a VPP optimises the profit potential of your battery. Because a battery allows for the discharge of energy to be controlled, this means that electricity is fed back to the grid only when it is needed, and when conditions are optimal, i.e. when the price of electricity is high.
Discover Energy has developed a platform that is one of the most sophisticated examples of this technology in the world.
Claudette: Can you explain a bit more Manbeena?
Manbeena: Our software is driven by AI technology with exceptional predictive power. This allows us to anticipate with a high amount of accuracy the predicted electricity price in 5 minutes. What this means for the customer is that the revenue generated from discharging their battery, in effect selling battery energy to the grid, is greatly optimised.
We’ve seen VPP customers in less than three months reduce their bills to zero and start earning credits. In fact, 93.7% of all our VPP customers earn credits, and on average earn $85.65 every month through energy trading and Discover Energy’s premium solar feed-in tariffs for VPP. Discover Energy’s VPP is also the first VPP energy trading platform in Australia that can be user-enabled.
This means you can also control and elect to discharge your battery energy manually. Through the Discover Energy VPP, customers can also enjoy free battery recharging.
Claudette: That’s really exciting Manbeena! From what you and Neal describe, the advantages for VPPs are such that it sounds like a no-brainer for anyone who has solar and battery, or is considering installing solar and battery.
Neal: Yes, and Manbeena’s only really talked about current benefits of joining a VPP. Discover Energy is working on increasing the range of features and benefits, particularly profit making applications – ways in which VPPs can make money for customers.
Claudette: Electric Vehicles are coming too, is there a role for VPPs to play in ensuring they are filled with renewable energy?
Neal: EVs are going to change how we consume electricity. But to the electricity network, an EV is a big battery on wheels, so there are going to be many opportunities to use this resource to stabilise the network and deliver better prices for customers. Not only filling them with renewable energy, but filling them more cost efficiently and helping us use more renewable energy in general.
Claudette: So there is plenty of value for customers in not only getting onboard with VPPs now, but going forward it’s only going to increase.
Manbeena: Yes, as you say, Claudette, if you have solar and battery, a VPP is a no brainer, particularly the Discover Energy VPP. We are proud to say that there are no lock-in contracts or exit fees to join Discover Energy. We have the largest range of eligible hardware in the country.
So,if you have a battery, you can enjoy the benefits of our premium solar feed-in and energy trading for at least 12 months.
Claudette: Thanks Manbeena and thanks Neal. If you are interested in learning more about the Discover Energy VPP, you can scan this QR code or visit www.discoverenergy.com.au, call us at 1300 946 898
