Itron, Inc., a company focused on helping utilities and cities manage energy and water, is partnering with Jemena, an Australian provider of gas and electricity services, to deploy its Low Voltage Distributed Energy Resource Management System (LV DERMS). This system will help manage rooftop solar generation and improve the resiliency of the energy system. LV DERMS is a flexible, data-driven solution that turns the challenges of integrating consumer energy resources (CERs), particularly solar energy, into opportunities. It provides real-time insights to support operational decisions, addressing the risks involved in managing CERs in the low voltage network.
Starting October 1, 2024, new or upgraded rooftop solar systems in Victoria, Australia, will need to meet certain requirements, including having a utility-compatible inverter and a reliable internet connection for utilities to manage demand. The Itron LV DERMS solution will allow Jemena, under the guidance of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), to remotely reduce solar power generation during grid imbalances. This feature ensures compliance with the Victoria government mandate and offers a simple, cost-effective, and secure way to manage stability challenges in the electricity grid.
Itron’s Low Voltage Distributed Energy Resource Management System (LV DERMS) will help Jemena collect and securely process solar generation data from all new rooftop solar systems connected to their network starting October 1, 2024. By providing near real-time information, Jemena gains a clear view of the energy levels in their distribution network, allowing them to address potential grid instability caused by excess solar generation. The system enables Jemena to manage solar input to the grid without interrupting customer electricity supply, ensuring grid stability. Itron’s LV DERMS integrates smoothly with Jemena’s existing back-office systems, giving them a comprehensive overview of the electricity network’s performance.
Georgia Cronin, General Manager Customer & Energy Solutions at Jemena, said in a statement, “Across Jemena’s electricity distribution network, we are seeing more customers adopt solar panels, electric vehicles and other technologies than ever before. While solar generation is beneficial to customers and a sustainable way to power homes, excess solar power can cause supply-demand imbalance within the energy system and potentially overload it. Itron’s LV DERMS helps us manage minimum demand and contributes to keeping the lights on for our customers.”
Alex Beveridge, Itron’s director of sales for APAC, also added, “Maximizing the contribution of consumer energy resources (CERs) is key to meeting Australia’s climate goals, and with rooftop solar at 30% penetration, it’s growing faster than any other renewable sources across the continent. Australia recognizes the risks to the energy system from rooftop solar and is leading the industry as they implement mandates to prepare for the future of CERs.”
He further added, “Designed specifically for the Australian market, our LV DERMS not only addresses the stability challenges facing the energy system but will also help Jemena better understand capacity constraints within the electricity distribution network. With Itron’s solutions already integrated at the edge of many Australian utility providers’ Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMI) networks, deploying Itron’s LV DERMS provides a cost-effective and streamlined approach, as seen with Jemena.”
