The Demand Management Trials Program is allocating $11 million of funding towards activities aimed at advancing the use of demand response and distributed energy resources to benefit both customers and the grid.

Grants for trials of demand response, demand aggregation and integrating distributed generation assets

The South Australian Government is funding trials that can show how new and distributed technologies can help make the grid more efficient and reward consumers for managing their own demand.

Projects underway

Expanding the use of emergency back-up power assets for demand management

AGL Energy Services Pty Ltd has been awarded $1,112,400 (excluding GST) to implement this project in partnership with Telstra. The expected total project value is $2,224,800 (excluding GST).

Automating demand response of residential loads to wholesale prices

Amber Electric Pty Ltd has been awarded $800,000 (excluding GST) to implement this project in partnership with Symbiot Technology. The expected total project value is $1,609,000 (ex GST).

Efficient targeting and automated control of residential air conditioning loads

Embertec Pty Ltd has been awarded $584,049 (excluding GST) to implement this project. The expected total project value is $1,355,000 (excluding GST).

Using commercial customers' existing backup generators to provide demand response

Enel X Australia Pty Ltd has been awarded $2,000,000 (excluding GST) to implement this project. The expected total project value is $6,877,000 (excluding GST).

Automating demand response of commercial and industrial loads to wholesale prices

Flow Power Pty Ltd has been awarded $1,067,697 (excluding GST) to implement this project. The expected total project value is $2,135,394 (excluding GST).

Developing a digital marketplace to unlock value of distributed energy resources

GreenSync Pty Ltd has been awarded $2,432,900 (excluding GST) to implement this project. The expected total project value is $5,316,000 (excluding GST).

Bringing South Australia's hot water load under active control

Rheem Australia Pty Ltd has been awarded $1,981,000 (excluding GST) to implement this project, in partnership with Combined Energy Technologies, Simply Energy, SA Power Networks and Marchment Hill Consulting. The project has also received grant funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The expected total project value is $8,800,357 (excluding GST).

Advanced voltage control

SA Power Networks has been awarded $975,000 (excluding GST) to implement this project in partnership with the CSIRO and Future Grid. The expected total project value is $1,953,000 (excluding GST).

Digitised tri-generation and nanogrid for demand management

The University of Adelaide has been awarded $675,000 (excluding GST) to implement this project. The expected total project value is $1,591,000 (excluding GST).

Information session

An industry information session was held on 3 December 2018 for organisations interested in applying for grants under the Demand Management Trials Program. Copies of the presentations are available for download:

Applications

Applications for the grants closed on 21 December 2018.

Under the Demand Management Trials Program grants of up to $2.5 million were available, with applicants expected to at least match the amount of grant funding being sought. Grants will be allocated through a competitive process based on the merit of applications.

Businesses and other organisations can register their interest receiving further communications about the Demand Management Trials Program by emailing DMTrials@sa.gov.au

Questions and answers

The following questions and answers have been prepared based on questions asked by interested parties. Any updates to the questions and answers will be notified to registered parties by email and published on this website.