Acting locally to maximise the grid

A new report from Energy Networks Australia makes the case that, with a few straightforward changes, the electricity grid can be made far more efficient, integrated and sustainable.

‘The Time is Now’ report, developed in partnership with global strategy consultancy L.E.K. Consulting, emphasises the benefit of making local changes alongside the large-scale actions required to overhaul the grid.

Energy Networks Australia CEO Dom van den Berg said there was a clear opportunity to get the local grid doing more of the heavy lifting in the energy transition and achieve greater savings for customers by 2030, but that window of opportunity was closing.

“We absolutely need to make sure we are ‘pulling all levers’,” Van den Berg said. “That includes keeping focused on the large-scale renewable projects and the vital transmission infrastructure we need to connect them. While we do that, it also makes good sense to do everything we can at a local level to bring down bills and provide more services to customers.

“We must get smarter with how we use existing infrastructure, how we maximise rooftop solar, how and where we store and manage it locally, and how we get more EV chargers in more places.”

Local actions recommended in the report include:

• connecting locally generated solar with unused capacity in the grid to operate as ‘local energy hubs’ for all the community to benefit from;
• introducing incentives for large commercial properties to install more solar panels on existing rooftops and share the energy generated with the local community;
• soaking up surplus solar by having large batteries attached to the existing grid infrastructure so that local customers get the full benefits of solar and grid-connected batteries;
• plugging in more EV chargers by enabling networks to install and maintain kerbside (power poles) charging at pace to put more chargers in more places, ensuring an equitable rollout of chargers and reducing customers’ range anxiety;
• syncing with the grid by connecting and coordinating all energy resources so that existing poles and wires are better utilised, while benefits to customers are maximised.
   

“The report calls for changes that are entirely doable and can be delivered today through the right policy decisions and fit-for-purpose regulatory settings. This is about supporting customer choices and enabling a local grid that better serves them,” Van den Berg said.

The report can be read here.

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