Project Symphony has been named the Energy Innovation of the Year at the 2024 WA Energy Awards.
This groundbreaking pilot was delivered through collaboration between Western Power, Energy Policy WA, Synergy, and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), and successfully integrated customer-owned distributed energy resources (DER) such as rooftop solar, batteries, and major appliances into a virtual power plant (VPP).
It demonstrated how excess energy generated from rooftop solar during the day when it is not required could be stored and used when needed, in the evening or on another day when the demand is higher.
By activating these previously passive customer assets, the pilot helped address the challenges and opportunities presented by Western Australia’s rapid increase in rooftop solar, battery energy storage and other major appliances.
This not only allowed customers to gain additional value from their energy assets but also provided critical services to manage the peaks and troughs of energy flows on the electricity system and network.
Project Symphony Program Manager, Andrew Blaver, said that this award celebrates more than two and a half years of innovation and collaboration.
“Customers were central to this pilot, as we integrated their energy assets—rooftop solar, batteries, and major appliances—into the system,” Mr Blaver said.
“We sincerely thank the more than 500 participating customers, along with our energy partners – Western Power, Energy Policy WA, Synergy, and the Australian Energy Market Operator. Together with the community, we’ll continue to support greater DER participation via VPPs, further driving the decarbonisation of our energy system.”
Project Symphony is a key initiative under the Western Australian Government’s Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap. It has provided valuable insights into how the electricity system can be strengthened to ensure reliable, secure, and affordable power as the energy industry evolves.
Project Symphony was supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of ARENA’s Advanced Renewables Program.
Featured image: Western Power
