World-first renewable energy marketplace to transform the industry

Greensync
Dr Phil Blythe, founder and CEO of GreenSync

A world-first trial will empower consumers to tap into the full value of their rooftop solar and battery storage systems, increasing the reliability of our electricity grids and making renewable energy more competitive.

GreenSync has launched the Decentralised Energy Exchange – or deX – which was developed through ARENA’s ‘A-Lab’ initiative.

The deX exchange will, for the first time, create an open marketplace for the value of energy generated by solar panels and stored in battery packs to be traded between consumers, businesses, communities and network utilities.

Dr Phil Blythe, founder and CEO of GreenSync said the global energy industry was currently undergoing a major transition and the launch of deX was key to enabling the shift towards a decentralised energy system.

“Reliability of the energy system and delivering new value streams to consumers are key priorities driving deX,” Mr Blythe said.

“Homes and businesses will be able to monetise their solar and storage assets by essentially renting them to the grid when they’re most needed.

“deX will revolutionise peak electricity management and drive more effective investment in energy infrastructure.”

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said funding projects like deX was delivering ARENA’s goal of accelerating Australia’s shift to renewable energy.

“To smoothly transition to a renewable energy future, we need new technologies and markets,” Mr Frischknecht said.

“In a win for energy consumers, deX will enable owners of solar and batteries to earn extra money for helping to keep the lights on by participating in the sizeable grid services market.

“Australia has world-leading levels of rooftop solar, however there’s currently no marketplace for consumers to access the full value of these systems.”

GreenSync is developing deX with open-source software and drawing on the capabilities of leading technology businesses, energy start-ups and electricity market participants.

The trial could bring grid support trading into everyday utility operations and reduce the cost of these services.

ARENA is providing $450,000 funding to support the $930,200 project.

A range of industry partners are participating in the GreenSync project: Reposit Power, Mojo Power, United Energy, ActewAGL, Australian National University, and the ACT and Victorian Governments.

The pilot will initially be carried out in two locations in the ACT and Victoria.

ActewAGL will be piloting deX with batteries deployed in the ACT Government’s Next Generation Energy Storage Program.

The trial will demonstrate how market-integrated batteries can address grid constraints on segments of the network with very high levels of solar PV.

United Energy will be piloting deX in the lower Mornington Peninsula, which is forecast to experience network constraints caused by peak summer demand.

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