Tesla has posted the first teaser of its virtual power plant project in South Australia.
The video provides a brief overview of the initiative, the resources needed, as well as its benefits to residents.
Tesla’s South Australia virtual power plant (VPP) comprising up to 50,000 homes fitted with solar panels and Powerwall 2 home batteries will be the world’s largest VPP system. A side benefit could be home electric vehicle charging.
A successful first trial and an enthusiastic South Australia government response should see the project’s third phase proceed.
About 100 Housing SA homes have received their 5kW of rooftop solar and the 13.5kWh Tesla Powerwall batteries, with another 1000 homes to receive solar and battery storage under an agreement locked in by the previous state Labor government.
Uncertainty developed when the state’s political climate changed.
However, Tesla’s VPP was approved by the ruling Liberal party last May, after energy minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan reaffirmed government support for the project at the Australian Energy Storage Conference.
“Subject to private finance, and the first two phases’ success, the third phase could grow to up to 50,000 home batteries connected to new solar installations, and this is in addition to our government’s 40,000 home election commitment,” he says.
An announcement on the $100 million grants for 40,000 homes is expected soon, which could see at least 90,000 subsidised and supported battery storage installations across the state.
The system is designed to support the state’s energy needs by lowering power rates for residents and providing additional stability to the grid.
