In 2011, AusNet Services released the details of a planned residential battery storage trial which was mentioned in their DMIA Annual Report. The trial used stationary batteries connected to residential homes with the main objectives being; to provide network demand management at a customer level, smoothing the customer load profile and managing the impacts of solar generation. The trial was conducted among ten homes who were provided with battery and solar PV cells and their associated management systems.
Last month AusNet Services published the case study, including the subsequent results of the trial. Reporting on the final results of the trial, the company stated “Combining the maximum customer benefits of $3,500 with the potential network peak demand benefits of $3,300 yields a combined present benefit of $6,800. This falls some way short of the 2018 forecast total cost of $10,700.” but went on to state that the gap between the present benefit and forecast could be made up through non-financial customer benefits, benefits that confer with parties such as retailers, or further technology cost reductions over a five year period. AusNet Services concluded “The Residential Battery Storage Trial was successful in proving the technical performance of residential energy storage. The Trial also identified that the financial performance, while not currently economic, is sufficient to warrant a further ongoing work stream aimed at realising the benefits of storage and managing customer uptake.”
We look fowared to hearing any further information about future trials or studies that AusNet Services can publish, including on this focused Demand Response site.