GreenSync awarded grant from Vic Govt new energy jobs fund

MEDIA RELEASE: The Victorian Government has awarded GreenSync $554,886 in grant funding as part of the $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund.

These funds will make an important contribution to the Mornington Peninsula Community Grids Project, which is a landmark demand response and energy storage project, focused on improving the reliability of electricity to the lower Mornington Peninsula. GreenSync will undertake the project on behalf of leading utility, United Energy.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio announced today that GreenSync had been successful in securing funds from the New Energy Jobs Fund. The Minister said: “GreenSync exemplifies the New Energy Jobs Program – a technology business founded in Melbourne, creating new energy jobs in Victoria and exporting its technology internationally.”

The fund has been launched to support Victorian-based projects that create long-term jobs, increase the uptake of renewable energy generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive innovation in new energy technologies.

GreenSync will use its grant funding to install two battery systems at community centres such as schools and surf lifesaving clubs where existing solar PV will enable implementation of a solar and storage solution.

The funds will also be used to pilot up to 250 Demand Response Enabled Device (DRED) control units in households across the Peninsula in the next 18 months. Through DRED control, air conditioners can have their power optimised or their use sequenced, without reducing comfort, to lower peak demand when the grid is under stress. The project will demonstrate this innovative technology, and assess the best approaches for a wider roll out across the community from 2018.

The pilot will inform the broader project which will engage and incentivise households, small businesses and community organisations to help them reduce and/or shift 11MW of energy demand at peak times through the use of solar PV and energy storage systems. GreenSync will also engage local utilities and other larger Commercial and Industrial operators to control their discretionary loads.

Importantly, the project will allow United Energy to defer having to build costly new infrastructure to meet infrequent high demand in the area, typically over the summer holiday period.

This project is the first in Australia to be given the green light following application of a Regulatory Investment Test for Distribution (RIT-D). GreenSync’s Founder and Manager Director Phil Blythe said: “We’re looking forward to demonstrating how our world leading technology can deliver this project of national significance.”

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Government of Victoria’s Media Release, “Keeping Victoria at the Cutting Edge of the New Energy Economy”, 23 August 2016.

Contact

For all media inquiries, please contact Skye Holcombe Henley, skye@greensync.com.au, 03 9008 5986.

To register your interest in the project, please contact us via mornpen@greensync.com.au.

Follow us on Twitter – @GreenSync.