Australia’s transition to net zero is full steam ahead, but the energy grid now faces unprecedented changes in demand and new challenges in maintaining stability.
Released in August 2024, Energy Networks Australia’s (ENA) The time is now report that found that Australia’s distribution grid is under‑utilised and identified opportunities within the local electricity grid that could provide cleaner, cheaper energy. To achieve this, the report recommendations include:
- Linking locally generated solar with unused capacity in the grid to operate as local energy hubs
- Amplifying untapped solar opportunities by introducing incentives for large commercial properties to install more solar panels and share with the community
- Soaking up surplus solar by attaching large batteries to existing grid infrastructure
- Plugging in more EV chargers by enabling networks to install and maintain kerbside charging
- Syncing with the grid by connecting and coordinating all energy resources
The increasing utilisation of consumer energy resources (CERs) such as solar, battery storage and EVs, however, can create its own challenges.
In the case of rooftop solar, Itron’s Head of Technical Sales for Asia Pacific, Nick Phillips, said that both over and under generation can cause issues in the low voltage network, with over generation running the risk of damaging inadequate infrastructure and sudden under generation leading to outages and instability.
To tackle these challenges and reap the full benefits of ENA’s recommendations, Mr Phillips said that increased visibility of CERs and their constraints is required, as well as the ability to control CERs within the operating envelope of the network.
“You need to be able to see the whole problem, right down to the bottom level of individual households. Trying to aggregate all of the data at the top level just doesn’t work,” Mr Phillips said.
A path forward
Itron’s Low Voltage Distributed Energy Resource Management Solution (LV-DERMS) offers a data-driven method for managing CERs while ensuring stability is maintained in the low-voltage network.
“LV-DERMS is specifically designed to harness our existing ability to be able to see behind the meter and give the distribution companies the power to plan and control the amount of energy to be released at any one time,” Mr Phillips said.
“It has a forecasting system that looks two days ahead, driven from the weather forecast. This gives us the ability to roughly work out for each individual home what we expect the generation profile to be,” Mr Phillips said.
Being able to plan ahead in this way enables communities to maximise the solar energy being generated in their neighbourhood.
When it comes to batteries, Mr Phillips said that the forecasting feature allows distribution companies to visualise where network constraints are and plan which parts of the network can safely charge batteries to their full capacity, ensuring any excess solar is soaked up for later use.
In addition to forecasting, LV-DERMS offers the ability to connect to and control assets, which provides a means for the coordination of consumer energy resources to ensure local transformers can handle increased demand.
“Being able to charge EVs and batteries at a coordinated time, along with solar, is really important to be able to make the most of things,” Mr Phillips said.
“LV-DERMS provides that visibility to see when the power is going to be available and the connectivity to be able to change the schedules as needed.”
Working in combination with other Itron solutions, LV-DERMS provides a clearly defined path to implement ENA’s recommendations by enabling the connection and coordination of all energy resources across the low‑voltage network.
For more information, visit aunz.itron.com/lvderms
