Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Comparison Table
Last Updated: 12th Nov 2024
Discover details of various Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs on offer in Australia with our regularly updated VPP comparison table. See which VPP might be best for your home or business.
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Scroll within the table to see all the rows and columns and see notes below the table for further information. Any corrections, additions or feedback? Email us. |
| VPP Provider | AGL “Bring Your Own Battery” | Amber for batteries | Diamond Energy WATTBANK VPP | Energy Australia “PowerResponse” | ENGIE BYO Battery VPP | ENGIE New Battery VPP Offer | Globird ZEROHERO | LAVO EAAS by Diamond Energy | Nectr BEE Super FiT | Nectr BEEyond VPP | Nectr Plan BEE | NRN VPP by Diamond Energy | Origin ‘Loop’ Virtual Power Plant | Powershop Virtual Power Plant | Reposit “No bill” | South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant | ShineHub | SolarHub VPP | Tesla Energy Plan/Energy Locals |
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| Batteries approved for use | Tesla, LG, SolarEdge | Full list here | Goodwe, Sungrow, LG | Tesla Powerwall, AlphaESS, Redback, LG Chem | Tesla Powerwall 2 | Tesla Powerwall 2, Eguana | AlphaESS, Redback, SunGrow, SolaX, Sigenergy, Tesla | LAVO | AlphaESS, QCells, SolarEdge, Sungrow, Tesla | AlphaESS, QCells, SolarEdge, Sungrow, Tesla, | AlphaESS, QCells, SolarEdge, Sungrow, Tesla | Sungrow | Sungrow, Tesla, LG Chem | Alpha-ESS, Energizer, Eveready, Hive, Huawei, LG, Redback, SolarEdge, SolaX, Sungrow, Tesla | SolaX Triple Power | Tesla | Alpha-ESS | LG Chem RESU "HV", Tesla Powerwall, SolarEdge, SolaX | Tesla Powerwall only |
| VPP subsidy | $100 bill credit sign-on bonus. $70 bill credit per quarter. | Eligible for REPS up to $2050 in SA | Up to $450 per year. Automatic credit added to monthly Diamond Energy bill. | $15 monthly bill credit, payment for discharge events | $300 upfront + $20 monthly credit | $500 upfront and $20 monthly credit | $1/day credit on "ZEROHERO" days, free charging from grid 11am-2pm | Up to 800kWh per month free. Any additional usage at fixed low rate. Usage and daily charge included on Diamond Energy bill. | $100 Sign-up credit 50c/kWh feed-in tariff during 4pm-9pm | Ultra-low electricity rates for up to 1,000kWh a quarter grid-fed consumption with a quartly membership fee ($30~$85 depending on DNSPs) Competitive rates for energy over 1,000kWh a quarter. | $100 Sign-up credit $20 monthly VPP credit | 10% discount on any grid electricity usage. Low rate for usage from system. Usage and daily charge included on Diamond Energy bill. | $1500 bill credit if you buy a system through Origin and stay for 5 years | Up to $40 per month credit on bill | Guaranteed 'no bill' for 7 years. | Completely free Tesla Powerwall, below-market-rate electricity rates | $0.55c/kWh paid for electricity fed from battery into grid during VPP events (on top of retailer feed in tariff) | $4,950 | $1,000 Powerwall subsidy for new owners, $100 credit for existing owners. Additional $220 "grid support credits" earned annually |
| Eligibility requirements | AGL customers in NSW, QLD, SA and VIC only | Located in the NEM in: SA NSW VIC ACT QLD (Energex region) | Residential households in NSW, SA, VIC and QLD (Energex only). | Residential households in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria and South Australia with Energy Australia as retailer. |
· Retailer must be ENGIE · SA, VIC, NSW and QLD residents · Customer must have min. 3kWp PV system, max 10kWp |
Retailer must be ENGIE · SA, VIC, NSW and QLD residents · Customer must have min. 3kWp PV system, max 10kWp · Customer must have had their battery installed within 30 days of signing up, through a ENGIE partner installer |
Located in NSW, SA, QLD (Energex) or VIC | Residential households in NSW, SA, VIC and QLD (Energex only). | Homeowner with a reliable broadband internet connection, not be on life support, have a solar system under 13.4kW and battery system over 9.5kWh and participate in the VPP | Homeowner with a reliable broadband internet connection, not be on life support, have a battery system over 9.5kWh and participate in the VPP | Homeowner with a reliable broadband internet connection, not be on life support, have supported hardware and participate in the VPP | Residential households in NSW, SA, VIC and QLD (Energex only). | VIC, SA, NSW, ACT, QLD via installer partner network or existing compatible batteries. 5kWh eligible battery, 5kW solar, reliable internet connection | Must be Powershop customer | Currently spend < $3500/a on electricity; Have no existing solar panels or batteries installed; If in VIC, be eligible for the Solar Victoria battery subsidy; Must purchase a solar + battery system from Reposit. | Only Housing SA properties eligible | Residents of SA, VIC, NSW, and QLD. | Specific NSW council areas | Residents of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, South East Queensland (Energex Network) and the Australian Capital Territory. PV system less than 15kW and no zero export restrictions in place. |
| Number of places in program | TBD | Uncapped | Uncapped | TBD | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | Uncapped | TBD | TBD | Phase 3 (current) - 3,000 Housing SA Properties | Uncapped | 650 | Up to 50,000 planned |
| Feed-in/usage tariffs offered | No VPP-specific tariffs offered - you simply use your existing plan with AGL. | Wholesale electricity rates - can be anywhere from negative electricity prices to up to $21/kWh | 30c/kWh Battery usage credit between 6pm to 8am. Diamond Energy’s best available market plan. | Standard feed-in tariffs | Standard feed-in tariffs | Standard feed-in tariffs | $0.15c/kWh FiT for evening periods (5-7pm) $1/kWh FiT during "critical export" periods | Diamond Energy’s best available market plan. | 50c/kWh feed-in tariff during 4pm-9pm. 1.85c~4.4c/kWh feed-in-tariff during all hours beyond 4pm-9pm | No FiT applicable | Competitive flat and time-of-use pricing for general usage. 1.85~4.4c/kWh feed-in-tariff. | Feed-in credit equal to retail plan usage rate. Diamond Energy’s best Single Rate plan. | Standard Origin tariffs | No VPP-specific tariffs offered - you simply use an existing plan offered by Powershop | Similar to a PPA - customer buys system outright and Reposit guarantees no bills. | TBD | $0.45c/kWh paid for electricity fed from battery into grid (on top of retailer feed in tariff) | 17c/kWh for first 10kWh daily |
Feed in rates vary by state: NSW: 4.9c/kWh VIC: 4.9c/kWh QLD: 5c/kWh SA: 5c/kWh ACT: 3c/kWh |
| Minimum energy storage capacity reserved for homeowner | Powerwall: 20% capacity. LG Chem: Varies based on inverter settings. Others TBD | Set by homeowner | No specified reserve. | 20% battery capacity reserved for the homeowner | 20% capacity | 20% capacity | Set by homeowner | No specified reserve. | 20% | 20% | 20% | No specified reserve. | Origin reserves the right to discharge entire battery, but may "preserve the capacity in the Battery so that it can be used for your consumption at times determined by us." 200kWh maximum usage by Origin for the year. | 20% battery energy reserved for use by homeowner. | TBD | TBD | 10% battery capacity reserved for the homeowner | No minimum reserved for the household. | 20% battery energy reserved for use by homeowner; max 50 discharge cycles per year |
| Contract term length | 12 months | None | No lock-in contract. Opt-in and out at any time. | 3 years | Ongoing | Ongoing | None | No lock-in contract. Opt-in and out at any time. Note, LAVO Energy as a Service Lease Agreement is for a fixed term. | No lock-in contract with monthly billing. Opt-in and out at any time | No lock-in contract with quarterly billing. Opt-in and out at any time. | No lock-in contract with monthly billing. Opt-in and out at any time | No lock-in contract. Opt-in and out at any time. Note, NRN System Services Agreement is for fixed term. | 5 years | None | 5 years | N/A | None | None | None |
| Contract cancellation fee | $0 | None | None. | $0 | $0 | $0 (clawback applicable on the $500 credit, pro rata over 5 years) | None | None. Note, LAVO Energy as a Service Lease Agreement is for a fixed term. | None | None | None | None. Note, NRN System Services Agreement is for fixed term. | TBD | $0 | No cancellation fee. | N/A | $0 | $0 | None |
| More information on brand | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here | Here |
We update this comparison table as VPP programs become available, VPPs end, and details of existing offers change.
While we do our best to ensure the information provided is up-to-date and accurate, you should always confirm details with the Virtual Power Plant provider you are considering signing up with before entering into any contract.
What Is A Virtual Power Plant?
In this scenario, a virtual power plant is a network of solar power and battery systems installed at homes and businesses. The systems are coordinated by a central control software system run by the VPP operator that taps into the stored energy of the batteries during periods of peak demand to supply the mains grid. You can learn more about Virtual Power Plants here.
Solar Batteries Approved For Use
VPP program participants have a limited choice of solar batteries compared to energy storage options currently available in Australia. This row lists the batteries available to the participants of a specific VPP.
VPP Subsidy
This can be thought of as the “discount” a solar household receives for choosing to participate in a VPP. Some VPP operators offer more than others, but all represent one of the cheapest ways to acquire a battery due to the discount over standard market prices.
VPP Eligibility Requirements
Each Virtual Power Plant has its own set of rules for homeowners looking to participate in the program. For example, the Tesla/SA Government VPP is currently restricted to SA Housing Trust tenants only. Others, like the Shinehub VPP, are less restrictive.
Number Of Places In Program
This is the scale of the Virtual Power Plant program. Some, such as the Shinehub VPP, are limited to 1,000 places. Others, like the Tesla VPP, are planned to eventually be opened to 50,000 homeowners.
Energy Plan Rates (Feed-in Tariff, Usage Tariff)
Different VPPs offer different energy plans to participants in the program. The two most important tariffs to check (that is, what you pay/are paid for grid electricity imports/exports) are the feed-in tariff and the usage tariff.
Minimum Energy Storage Capacity For Homeowner
This is the percentage of the battery that is reserved for exclusive use by the homeowner. A core component of a VPP is the ability of a VPP operator to cycle a battery when needed, regardless of the homeowner’s current energy needs. This figure is important for understanding if your chosen Virtual Power Plant allows you to keep any of your battery’s capacity solely for your own needs (such as backup).
Contract Term Length
Exactly what it says on the tin – some VPPs require the homeowner to enter into a contract, while others don’t.
Contract Cancellation Fee
If a Virtual Power Plant Operator requires the customer to enter into a contract, this is the fee that will need to be paid if the homeowner chooses to exit from the VPP program.
Added note: regarding the “modern slavery” row in this table – all our comparison tables are powered by the same application. While this row has relevance for our hardware comparisons, it doesn’t apply to VPP programs and will be removed in due course.