World’s Largest Virtual Power Plant

New Zealand Charges Ahead of Australia with World’s Largest Virtual Power Plant

Auckland, 1 December 2018 – today solarcity launched a countdown to the connection of more than 3,000 existing home solar and battery systems to the national grid, to create the world’s largest virtual power plant. The project will create a generation and storage network that will help provide energy to the power grid when it is unable to cope with demand or there is a fault.
“Australia says it plans to build the world’s largest virtual power station but we’re actually doing it with our existing systems and we’re adding more everyday,” says solarcity founder and CEO Andrew Booth.

“We’re working alongside communities to ensure New Zealand’s energy system is affordable, resilient and secure, as we transition to the next generation of energy technologies.”

We’re investing in new technologies that will help create jobs, attract investment in renewable energy and bring down power prices for all New Zealanders.”

solarcity’s existing solar customers already generate 13.6 GWh of energy. With Panasonic batteries those systems will collectively store 18 MWh of power and stop 2,230 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere every year.

The virtual power station project was formally announced today by Hon. James Shaw, Minister for Climate Change, at solarcity’s Gig for Good in Auckland.

Andrew Booth comments, "We have cemented our position as one of the world’s leading hubs for renewable energy. This is an example of Kiwi innovation at its best, world leading battery technology backed by a smart green financing mechanism lowering energy bills for our communities, and delivering on a cleaner, green energy future for our nation.”

The virtual power plant will make energy available to Transpower’s Demand Response Programme and participating customers will be paid.

Transpower CEO Alison Andrew welcomed the initiative, “It’s an exciting first to include battery systems of this scale within our Demand Response Programme. This is beneficial because consumers can have more control over their energy use and when they use it. The more people who participate, the more we can reduce the overall peak demand on the grid.

Te Mauri Hiko forecasts a doubling of electricity demand by 2050. Demand response initiatives will be one tool that will help the transition to a cleaner, low carbon energy future.”

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