Energy Queensland managing distributed renewable energy to become a 'virtual power plant'

Energy Queensland is a large Queensland government-owned utility that is working with GreenSync to manage distributed renewable energy resources, such as rooftop solar, to help manage demand and drive down prices. GreenSync is a Melbourne-based start-up business which will use a cloud-based, load control internet system to manage extreme electricity demand during severe temperature events and, in general, add grid support. This will create Australia’s largest 'virtual power plant'.

There are many potential customers with rooftop solar or other distributed energy sources in Queensland. For example, the so-called Sunshine State leads the nation on rooftop solar uptake, with 34% of houses said to have put PV panels on their roofs. Distributed renewable energy customers, such as these, would be enrolled into the virtual power plant platform ahead of peak summer demand.

The Queensland government has a goal to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and to have 50% renewable energy for electricity by 2030.

For more information see Energy Queensland taps people power to shore up summer grid. By Sophie Vorrath, 6 September, 2017 from One Step off the Grid.