Energy Minister Bill Johnston today released the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadmap’s two-year progress report.
DER, which includes rooftop solar systems, batteries and electric vehicles, have been taken up by Western Australian households and businesses at extraordinary rates.
One in three WA households have rooftop solar, which is expected to rise to 50 per cent by 2030. The rapid uptake has created challenges and opportunities for the way our power system produces, manages and consumes electricity.
The roadmap outlines the actions we must take over the next five years to meet these challenges and ensure WA’s energy future is clean, green and affordable for customers.
Since the roadmap’s release, the annual installation rate for rooftop solar has hit record highs, with about one megawatt added each day by WA households, schools and small businesses in 2021.
The most significant changes and additions include introducing Emergency Solar Management rules and the release of the State Government’s Electric Vehicle Action Plan.
Additionally, Federal and State Government funding was secured for WA’s flagship community virtual power plant Project Symphony, a tariff pilot was introduced to encourage households to use their energy during the middle of the day and 13 community batteries were installed.
Energy Policy WA, Western Power, Horizon Power, Synergy and the Australian Energy Market Operator are working together to implement the roadmap. For more information, visit https://www.wa.gov.au/government/distributed-energy-resources-roadmap
As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
“The Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap is a key element of the McGowan Government’s Energy Transformation Strategy and is ensuring we can embrace the uptake of renewable energy while maintaining a stable power system.
“Two years on and the roadmap is on track, responding to the evolving energy landscape to ensure customers can continue to invest in and enjoy the benefits of new technologies.
“The Energy Transformation Strategy is continuing to help progress our State towards a greener, cleaner energy future with more renewable energy at its heart.”
