Alice Springs Future Grid has appointed SwitchDin, a Newcastle company, to deliver the technology that links solar and battery systems across Alice Springs, creating the Solar Connect Virtual Power Plant (VPP).

SwitchDin provides a comprehensive distributed energy orchestration technology platform for residential and commercial solar, batteries, electric vehicles and loads.

The Solar Connect VPP provides an opportunity for the community to be involved in one of the Future Grid’s innovative trials. Future Grid is a whole-of-system project considering how Alice Springs can achieve 50% renewable energy by 2030, through a series of trials, models and investigations.

Future Grid project director Lyndon Frearson says it was a significant moment for the town: “Alice Springs has a strong history of renewable energy innovation, including the DKA Solar Centre, Bushlight, Alice Solar City, and the Intyalheme Centre for Future Energy which designed and is leading delivery of the Future Grid project.

“Creating the Solar Connect VPP involved engineering and economic challenges, legal and regulatory arrangements and community engagement, requiring an enormous collaborative effort between Project Partners.”

He adds that the process demanded robust discussion and decision-making which felt uncomfortable at times, but the team recognised friction is a design feature of the Future Grid project and a by-product of building relationships and overcoming barriers in a changing environment.

Project delivery is coordinated by the Intyalheme Centre for Future Energy, on behalf of Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA). The Project Partners primarily involved in delivery of the VPP include Jacana Energy, Power and Water Corporation and the Arid Lands Environment Centre. Knowledge Sharing partner CSIRO is helping to disseminate lessons learnt across industry.

The Solar Connect VPP will utilise Stormcloud: a smart, digital platform that securely connects distributed energy resources all over the grid to make the grid more secure and efficient.