The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced a $20.8 million investment in Project Jupiter, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at developing a commercial solution for operating distributed energy resources (DERs) within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) in Western Australia.
This project will play a crucial role in enabling the seamless integration of DERs, such as solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles, into the existing electricity grid while maintaining grid reliability and security.
“Project Jupiter will be the first live DER marketplace in Australia that is integrated with the wholesale market, marking an important milestone in Australia’s renewable energy transition,” said Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA.
By 2028, all new DERs connected to WA’s network will be able to participate in a virtual power plant (VPP), allowing households to unlock greater value from their energy investments.
“By 2028, all new distributed energy resources (DER) connected to WA’s network will be able to participate in a [virtual power plants], allowing households to unlock greater value from their energy investments,” said Andrew Blaver, Head of Distribution Energy Transition at Western Power.
This investment by ARENA underscores the Australian government’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions for integrating renewable energy sources into the grid and fostering a more sustainable energy future.
