Joint media release: WA homes get connected to lower cost energy

The Hon Chris Bowen MP,  Minister for Climate Change

The Hon Josh Wilson MP, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Albanese Government is helping households to save money and encouraging the uptake of residential solar panels and batteries, with a nation-leading energy project that will secure Western Australia’s largest distribution network.

Launched today, Project Jupiter is a co-funded initiative made possible with a $20.8 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

It means WA households have more choice to join virtual power plants (VPPs), putting downward pressure on bills and overall system costs, while reducing emissions.

Using the latest software and communications technology to deliver services that would traditionally be performed by a conventional power plant, VPPs connect household solar panels, batteries, and appliances, which then work together as a single power plant across a large number of consumers. 

This gives households the choice to share energy with the grid, helping to make the energy system more resilient and secure, while rewarding consumers with lower energy bills for generating and storing electricity. 

In contrast, Peter Dutton’s nuclear scheme will slow renewable investment, push up power bills, prolong the use of increasingly unreliable coal fired power stations and force the shutdown and devaluation of household solar systems.

More than 40% of households connected to WA’s SWIS have rooftop solar panels, with around 30,000 new systems installed each year.

Household battery systems are also being installed at an increasing rate by households connected to the SWIS.

Project Jupiter brings together Western Power, Synergy, the Australian Energy Market Operator and Energy Policy WA.

Building on the success of a demonstration project, the project aims to provide all new residential energy sources that are connected to the state’s main electricity network the ability to participate in a VPP by 2028.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen

“The clean energy revolution is happening now and accelerating across Australia with the rollout of innovative technologies like virtual power plants.

“While the Albanese Government is getting on with the job and investing in practical solutions that reduce household energy bills now, Peter Dutton’s Coalition is spearheading an anti-renewables obsession turned risky nuclear scheme that experts say will see power bills increase by $1,200 a year and force Aussies to switch off their rooftop solar.” 

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson

“Western Australian’s have clearly embraced our state’s world-leading access to solar energy with almost half of homes with solar panels that feed into one of the world’s largest stand-alone grids.

“Our state is an ideal place to pioneer the rollout of virtual power plants at scale.

“Just as we leverage the mineral resources in our great state, Project Jupiter will harness WA’s incredible home solar potential in a way that benefits everyone through lowers costs, improved grid stability, and lower carbon emissions.”