We are thrilled to announce that our Smart Connect Solar program has successfully rolled out across regional Western Australia. This cutting-edge technology is expanding rooftop solar access to thousands more customers, thanks to our Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS).
Completing Smart Connect Solar ahead of schedule is a significant achievement, aligning with our strategic goal of ensuring zero customer refusals when connecting rooftop solar by 2025. The program has now launched in its final eight towns – Esperance, Menzies, Onslow, Fitzroy Crossing, Yungngora, Marble Bar, Kununurra, and Lake Argyle – and has been expanded to all towns in our service area.
This technology is providing thousands more households and businesses with the opportunity to install rooftop solar and enjoy the benefits of renewable energy, including power bill savings. Smart Connect Solar has delivered critical technical capabilities, enabling us to remove solar hosting capacity constraints that previously limited the number of solar installations to ensure the security and reliability of power supply.
Supporting the Cook Government’s commitment to delivering clean energy solutions for regional WA, this technology is increasing access to renewable energy while improving the safety and stability of our electricity network. DERMS technology analyzes weather patterns, power system conditions, and renewable energy resources, using this data to coordinate power flows and ensure our electricity network operates safely and reliably at all times. This maximizes renewable energy output and benefits for our customers.
In addition to rooftop solar, DERMS will enable us to safely and reliably integrate and balance energy across customer energy resources like batteries and electric vehicles. The State Government invested $6.36 million into the project, which was launched in Carnarvon in February.
Our CEO, Stephanie Unwin, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating, “Horizon Power established the strategic goal of zero customer refusals when connecting rooftop solar by 2025, to solve the technical challenges preventing customer access to rooftop solar. Achieving this goal creates more customer choice to participate in renewable energy and ways to reduce energy bills. The advanced DERMS technology underpinning Smart Connect Solar will also improve the safety and stability of our systems as they evolve to incorporate greater levels of clean energy. We are proud to have completed the roll-out of Smart Connect Solar ahead of schedule, so that thousands of additional customers can reap the benefits of renewables, including reduced energy bills, earlier than expected.”
Smart Connect Solar supports the WA State Government’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. We are committed to a clean energy future for all Western Australians and promoting customer choice and the ability to reduce energy bills.
Smart Connect Solar
Smart Connect Solar is our solution to the technical challenges of connecting high volumes of solar energy to the network. It uses internet connected solar technology that enables us to effectively manage high levels of solar energy on the network, whilst maintaining a safe and reliable power supply for the community.
About Smart Connect Solar
Horizon Power acknowledges the Traditional Custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.
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