Midnight Sun Energy Storage Systems has signed an agreement with Evergen to use its intelligent energy-management software developed in partnership with CSIRO. The software increases the performance of single-dwelling solar and battery systems and enables operation of virtual power plants (VPP) and microgrids, where fleets of systems are orchestrated and optimised together with the energy networks.
Located in Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape, Midnight Sun is owned by local energy industry veterans Chris and Frank Ellis and specialises in advanced battery storage products and intelligent energy management solutions for residential customers. The company is one of the largest distributors of Alpha-ESS energy storage systems in the South African market and the only distributor that is solely focused on the Alpha-ESS product range.
Ben Hutt, CEO and Managing Director of Evergen, said, “We are excited to take the Evergen business global with our first extension into South Africa. With large gated communities aspiring to reduce their energy risk and cost by utilising solar and battery storage technologies, Evergen is perfectly placed to enable local operators to benefit from our core technology and deliver better outcomes for customers in South Africa.
“We will be enabling virtual power plants and microgrids, primarily for large new-build developments and communities, and we are delighted to partner with Midnight Sun to deliver this. South Africa is a country prone to blackouts due to load shedding, so for residents in gated communities, being able to access their properties and function normally in blackouts is essential.”
Frank Ellis, CEO of Midnight Sun, said, “We were delighted to discover Evergen and believe the software and operating principles the team have developed in Australia will be very helpful for us in developing and delivering world-class outcomes for our customers across sub-Saharan Africa. We are focused on working with property developers building significant communities, and our partnership with Evergen and AlphaESS enables us to deliver superior outcomes that ensure the long-term cost effectiveness and security of our clients’ energy.”
This agreement is the first step in Evergen’s strategy for global expansion. As international energy markets evolve, battery storage technologies and the software that enables and controls them will become a key constituent in the energy landscape of the future. Working with local distributors enables them with a competitive advantage in their local market by improving the performance of solar and battery systems and enabling network initiatives.
Moving forward, Evergen is in the process of contracting with distributors across Australia and around the world, initially in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Evergen deploys integrated energy systems, combining software, solar power and battery technology in commercial and residential environments to reduce the cost of electricity for Australians. Its technology delivers significant savings to customers on average 76.7 per cent of electricity costs and it supports distributed energy networks through VPPs, microgrids, demand response and other initiatives.
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