ARENA backs NSW start-up pilot to pool Australia's backyard pools: slashing their share of household energy consumption and making them work for the grid.
NSW smart pool pilot wins $2.5m ARENA grant
Software/Gadgets
Another mini-grid breakthrough for AusNet in suburban Melbourne trial
Victorian network operator AusNet Services has again succeeded in taking part of a Melbourne street completely off grid – this time for a total of 9 hours, powered only by home solar and battery storage systems.
SA councils launch tender for "bigger better" community energy plan
Group of six SA councils is calling for proposals to deliver solar, battery storage and smart controls to its 120,000-strong regional community.
WA trial to use blockchain technology to deliver smart energy – and water
Blockchain technology by Perth-based Power Ledger to be used to coordinate solar, battery storage and water services in urban-scale trial.
Flinders Island makes switch to renewables, with solar, wind and energy storage Hub
Flinders Island's Hybrid Energy Hub – with 900kW wind, 200kW solar PV plus battery storage and a flywheel – is already taking the previously diesel powered Tasmanian island to levels of 80% renewables, and should manage to supply 100 per cent of demand before the year is out.
What is electricity resilience worth to you?
As the global microgrid market takes off, It's crucial each customer knows what power loss costs them as they weigh their need for a microgrid.
How a Melbourne apartment building cut its energy consumption in half
Melbourne retiree offers salutary lesson on how much energy and money – $140,000 a year – can be saved, just by changing light bulbs and applying the most basic energy management upgrades.
Monash Uni begins solar + battery storage microgrid, on road to 100% renewables
Victoria’s Monash University has begun work on an innovative solar and battery storage-based renewable energy microgrid.
HydroTasmania takes Rottnest Island to 45% renewables with new solar array
WA's Rottnest Island can now meet up to 90% of its electricity demand from solar and wind energy, after a 600kW solar array was added to the existing hybrid wind and diesel system.
Origin Energy trials solar trading with blockchain start-up Power Ledger
Origin Energy will trial peer-to-peer solar energy trading using the blockchain-based platform of Perth start-up Power Ledger.
Reverse solar hot water innovation making air con more efficient
New research shows fluid-filled roof panels that work like solar water heaters – except to extract heat from fluid, rather than adding it – can help make air conditioning up to 20% more efficient.
EnergyAustralia rolls Redback smart solar platform out to customers
EnergyAustralia and Redback Technologies launch smart solar energy management system that could save customers $1,500 a year on electricity bills.
Energy Queensland taps people power to shore up summer grid
As the federal government continues to court coal, state-owned Energy Queensland has partnered with Melbourne tech start-up GreenSync to tap state's distributed renewable energy customers, including the nearly 30% of homes with rooftop solar, and create a virtual power plant ahead of peak summer demand.
‘Smart home’ gadgets: Not always the easy answer to cutting bills
Research suggests some "smart" devices can wind up increasing household energy usage, rather than cutting it.
What are virtual power plants, and how will they change the energy business?
Virtual power plants and transactive energy: What, exactly, are they? And why does a leading microgrid analyst see them changing the way the power industry does business?
LO3 unveils 'game-changing' solar sharing microgrid in South Australia
US-based company behind block-chain energy sharing technology unveil plans for 6MW SA solar microgrid with Yates Electrical that could be the start of an industry-changing revolution.
