The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched a major initiative drawing the whole of the energy industry together to harness the potential of household energy generation.
The Agency’s targets are the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) made up of the vast array of decentralised, consumer-owned small scale energy technologies in homes and businesses that include rooftop solar, home batteries, smart appliances, smart thermostats or pool pumps and charging points for electric vehicles.
According to industry forecasts, up to 45 per cent of all electricity generated in Australia will be generated by DER by 2050, compared to just three per cent today.
Chief Executive of ARENA, Darren Miller said the Distributed Energy Integration Program (DEIP) was a collaboration of energy peak bodies, market authorities, industry associations and consumers’ associations aimed at maximising the value of customers’ distributed resources for all energy users.
Mr Miller said the joint initiative would involve ARENA, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Australia Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Australian Energy Regulator, Clean Energy Regulator, Energy Consumers Australia, Clean Energy Council, Australian Energy Council, Energy Networks Australia, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
“To deal with the expected increase in uptake of rooftop solar, home batteries and other technologies, such as smart appliances and electric cars, over the coming decades, changes are required to system planning, operations, markets, regulatory frameworks and industry business models,” Mr Miller said.
“The DEIP will work together to coordinate the rollout of initiatives aimed at growing the penetration of DERs in Australia through improved cost and time efficiencies, informing energy consumers and supporting development of innovative business models.”
Further information about the initiative can be accessed on the ARENA website at this PS News link.
