AGL Energy has completed the acquisition of 100% ownership in South Australia (SA)’s Virtual Power Plant (SAVPP) from Tesla.
This allows AGL to add a substantial network of residential solar and battery systems into its portfolio.
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The SAVPP is one of Australia’s largest virtual power plants (VPPs) and was set up in 2018 with support from the SA government and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
It includes distributed solar capacity along with 7,000 Powerwall home batteries.
The SAVPP is a group of solar and Powerwall home battery systems installed on social and community housing in South Australia.
The acquisition coincides with AGL’s launch of the AGL Community Power programme.
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By GlobalDataThis initiative aims to explore innovative methods for distributing the advantages of the energy transition to individuals who are unable to purchase solar panels and batteries or face obstacles related to home ownership.
Residents participating in the programme will benefit through reduced energy costs with discounted prices for their electricity usage,
AGL chief customer officer Jo Egan stated: “SA social and community housing residents participating in this programme will continue to receive significantly discounted energy prices. This innovative model of a virtual power plant means we can extend the benefits of the energy transition to more customers, in a smart and simple way.
“This deal follows on from our existing community support to help address cost-of-living pressures and is part of AGL’s ongoing focus on making sure all customers and communities can take part in the benefits of the energy transition. We know that upfront costs of installing solar and batteries can be a significant barrier for many, and we are focused on how we can make these more accessible.
“We are focused on growing our flexible load under management and virtual power plant to support the energy transition.”
AGL stated that it now has “one of the largest” residential battery virtual power plants in Australia, bringing it closer to its fiscal 2027 target of 1.6GW of “decentralised assets under orchestration.”
As part of its $90m customer support package aimed at assisting those affected by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, AGL has dedicated resources for customer and community support.
