Tesla expands virtual power plant to NSW, Queensland and ACT

Tesla is expanding the country’s largest virtual power plant to New South Wales, south-east Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory, under the banner of its Tesla Energy Plan.

The announcement was quietly rolled out on the company’s LinkedIn page, and included very little in the way of details, with only a link to the Tesla Energy Plan page on its Australia website.

The expansion of what Tesla describes as “Australia’s largest virtual power plant, purpose built for Powerwall owners” is, nevertheless, big news.

Back in 2019, Tesla opened access to the Tesla Energy Plan in South Australia for Powerwall 2 owners. The price for the Powerwall 2 was then quickly cut, and with existing South Australian subsidies, the opportunity to install a Tesla Powerwall was never better.

More importantly, however, later that year – during an unexpected coal power outage in Queensland – it was South Australian Powerwall owners signed up to the Tesla Energy Plan who came to the rescue, helping to keep the grid stable through the VPP facility.

“Our world leading technology optimises the use of your Powerwall based on your energy needs, market conditions, weather and anticipated grid events to ensure it benefits your home, while also supporting the community with clean renewable energy,” Tesla says on its website.

“In return, you receive competitive energy rates, Grid Support Credits and Powerwall Credits to reward your participation.”

Participation in Tesla’s Virtual Power Plant provides customers with energy savings through flexible time-of-use rates which helps to reduce power bills while simultaneously providing greater access to renewable energy throughout the local community.

Customers are guaranteed a minimum 20 per cent back-up reserve during a grid outage and the Tesla Energy Plan limits the number of Powerwall discharge cycles to the grid to 50 per year.

To be eligible, customers must have an existing or purchase a new Powerwall battery, be a residential customer in an eligible Tesla Energy Plan region, have an internet connection and an installed smart metre, or agree to have one installed, and have a solar system of less than 15kW per Powerwall.

Interested customers can join here.