The Andrews Labor Government is launching a new pilot program that aims to deliver the benefits of household solar to more Victorians.

The pilot will create local networks of houses with solar panels and batteries, and bundle together the excess energy stored in their solar batteries so it can be used by the grid when it is needed most.

Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio announced the program – the first of its kind in Victoria – today and called on energy companies with expertise in aggregation and battery power to be a part of the pilot.

Aggregating the power from household-scale batteries and selling it back into the grid when demand is highest would offer benefits to all consumers – offering the households involved an additional revenue stream and boosting the reliability of the grid for everyone else.

The Labor Government is encouraging applications that focus on consumer benefits and protections, innovation in energy management and market solutions, and which represent value for Victorian customers and the broader community.

Solar Victoria will ensure a fair approach to current and prospective providers and ensure all approved aggregators have strong consumer protections to minimise confusion and increase consumer confidence in battery aggregation.

To complement the program, Solar Victoria is developing a dedicated consumer literacy program to demystify batteries and aggregation and highlight the benefits for householders and the grid.

The pilot follows the $47.4 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2020/21 to meet booming demand for Solar Homes battery rebates by increasing the number of rebates available from 10,000 over 10 years, to 18,500 rebates over four years.

For further information and to apply for the pilot program, please visit solar.vic.gov.au/battery-aggregation.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio

“This pilot aims to bring the benefits of solar to all Victorians – reducing pressure on the grid and boosting reliability when demand is highest.”

“We’re working closely with industry to drive innovative solar solutions for customers and create good outcomes for the wider electricity network.”