distributed energy resources

Electric vehicle sales and renewable energy production are on the rise globally. The United States alone added 5.8 million light-duty electric vehicles to its roads as of 2023, leading the US Department of Energy to predict that electricity demand for EV charging could increase overall US electricity consumption by 20-50% by 2050.

AEMO will prioritise consumer energy resources integration over the coming financial year, and is part of 29 actions being prioritised for the energy transition as outlined in its Engineering Roadmap FY2026 Priority Actions report.

As Australia’s distribution network service providers grapple with challenges sparked by the rise of distributed energy resources, EA Technology says leveraging insights from grid-edge intelligence can unleash the full potential of their networks.

Queensland government-owned utility Ergon Energy has announced it will build the state’s first network-connected microgrid as it investigates how to best utilise distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar, and improve the reliability of electricity supply in edge-of-grid communities.

Wollongong-based software company Gridsight has raised $7.5 million to support the growth of its AI-powered platform that is designed to help electricity network operators integrate and maximise the use of new distributed renewable energy resources such as solar and batteries.

Following the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMCs) final determination in December 2024 allowing virtual power plants to compete directly with large-scale generators in the energy market, technology company GridBeyond has reported the broader market benefits of this significant change.

Manager of Western Australia’s South West Interconnected System Western Power has been allocated $20.8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for its Project Jupiter, which for the first time in Australia will integrate a live distributed energy resources marketplace with wholesale markets.

Clean energy infrastructure startup National Renewable Network aims to deploy no-cost solar and battery systems to 36,000 Australian homes over the next 18 months after raising $4.28 million in an oversubscribed funding round.

New Zealand’s current electricity supply crisis requires immediate solutions. But we argue the government’s emphasis on importing natural gas and construction of centralised solar farms is a missed opportunity.

Much like death and taxes are life’s guarantees, so are warmer days and nights with the Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast predicting Australia to have an 80% chance of above-average temperatures this Autumn.