Expressions of interest are now open for the Energy Masters program in South Australia, set to test the benefits of energy-smart homes.
The $13.8 million program is being led by SA Power Networks, who contributed $2.8 million to the initiative. It will bring together a unique group of industry partners, selected for their expertise in their respective fields.
The Energy Masters program was launched by South Australian Minister for Energy and Mining, Tom Koutsantonis, and SA Power Networks Chief Operating Officer, Mark Vincent and will support 500 South Australian households to optimise energy use and save on their energy bills.
Households selected to participate will receive:
- A free Clipsal Cortex HEMS (home energy management system) to optimise their home energy use
- Subsidies for new heat pump hot water systems or smart split-system air-conditioners, covering 50–90 per cent of the installed cost in most cases
- Access to retail offers from partner retailers Amber Electric and EnergyAustralia, which reward customers for using energy flexibly
Fifty places in Energy Masters will be set aside for low income and energy hardship households to ensure they are supported to join.
In return, households will participate in a research program led by RACE for 2030, aimed at demonstrating the value of energy-smart households and providing valuable information about how technology standards can be changed to deliver better customer outcomes as more customer energy resources (CER) are integrated into the grid.
SA Power Networks said that households will be carefully selected by the project team from the expressions of interest, to make sure the research is representative of as many South Australians as possible.
As part of the research, participating households will trial SA Power Networks’ flexible network connection, combining its flexible exports initiative with a new flexible import limit.
SA Power Networks will be able to send signals to households, via the HEMS device, which will optimise the energy use of designated flexible appliances in response to the network conditions. SA Power Networks said it is also offering financial incentive for opted-in devices, which will be passed on by the project partner retailers.
Energy Masters households could save several hundred dollars for opting-in to flexible electricity use and optimisation via their HEMS. Beyond this project, modelling undertaken by SA Power Networks suggests that customers who electrify their homes and vehicles could halve total household energy costs.
Recent industry reports estimate that such demand-side flexibility presents an opportunity to avoid between $20 billion and $30 billion in generation and network investment across Australia, which will in turn reduce the costs passed through to all electricity customers.
Mr Vincent said, “As households continue to invest in CERs like electric vehicles, solar, and even electric hot water or smart split-system air-conditioners, we think it’s critical that customers are able to get the maximum possible value from their energy-smart home. Currently, a lot of that value is left on the table.
“Energy Masters households will have access to a unique combination of technology and offers that allow them to ‘value stack’ their home energy investments,” Mr Vincent said.
“Energy Masters households will be making the most of the latest in-home optimisation, network offers and retail offers all designed to reward customers for using these devices in an automated, flexible way.”
Mr Koutsantonis said, “Energy smart homes are the way of the future, and we want South Australians to be empowered to optimise how they use their energy now and in the long term.
“There are many tools out there for consumers to help them to take control of their energy consumption.
“Energy Masters will be valuable in helping us understand what tools are right for different households, and how we can help South Australians move to energy simplicity and a greater use of renewables – either from their own solar or the grid.”
Mr Koutsantonis said that he expects that many households will be excited to express their interest in this opportunity.
“As a renewable energy powerhouse, South Australian households have led the world in the global race to decarbonise. According to SA Power Networks, we already have over 340,000 houses with rooftop solar and more than 43,000 home batteries.
“Projects like Energy Masters will build on this and give us important research that can inform the future of household energy in South Australia.”
Households can express their interest at www.saenergymasters.com.au until 2 December 2024.
Image credit: FOTOGRIN/shutterstock.com
