Australia’s only manufacturer of solar panels, Tindo Solar, has partnered with smart energy storage systems manufacturer sonnen, making its solar panels available to new sonnen customers who sign up for the Solar Victoria Virtual Power Plant Pilot Program.
The VPP pilot provides a $4,174 rebate for the sale and installation of an approved battery, which is connected to a solar system when customers join the sonnenConnect approved VPP program. Tindo Solar is the first panel-supplier that sonnen is partnering with to offer Victorian customers Tindo Solar panels with the purchase of a sonnenBatterie.
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The VPP pilot, administered by Solar Victoria, will deliver Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) from Australia’s booming rooftop solar market, by joining many privately-owned solar-battery systems onto a single FCAS platform.
Through sonnen’s VPP energy offer, sonnenConnect, customers can use their batteries to connect to the Victorian VPP to help stabilise the grid in the National Electricity Market. sonnenConnect customers will receive a monthly payment for their participation, along with a payment to the customer of 0.82¢ per day when their battery is available.
The development of FCAS capability from home batteries is seen as a crucial way to maintain the NEM grid at its optimal 50hz, even as more intermittent power creates volatile frequency in the grid. sonnenBatterie owners who are part of sonnenConnect give access to their batteries and are paid a $100 signup bonus to join sonnenConnect and up to $299.30 per annum.
Tindo Solar CEO Shayne Jaenisch said the company was proud to be offering Tindo Solar panels to sonnen customers in Victoria, in conjunction with the company’s launch of its new sonnenBatterie Evo.
“sonnen has evolved their battery to include features that Australian households and business owners want in a home battery solution,” he said.
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“The sonnenBatterie Evo has 10kWh of storage. It is a genuine outdoor battery that can handle the Australian climate, it has backup power should the grid power go down and it has a smart Battery Management System that means the owner can participate in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), saving themselves more money and helping to stabilise the grid.
“This is a really strong battery and we’re pleased that Tindo Solar panels can be offered with the sonnenConnect VPP program.”
