Energy Demand and Generation Exchange (EDGE)
Project EDGE demonstrated how Distributed Energy Resources (DER) can be better integrated at a large scale into the National Electricity Market (NEM) whilst at the same time minimising network issues. Mondo, as an Aggregator, orchestrated hundreds of customers over the trial duration to deliver customer, network and energy market benefits.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Timeframe: August 2020 to August 2023
We unlocked the full potential of community energy and paved the way to a net-zero future
About the project
Project EDGE demonstrated how residential and commercial solar and battery systems can be optimised for customers whilst also integrating into the National Electricity Market (NEM) and Distribution Networks. Using the Ubi Platform, systems responded to high and low market prices, provided visibility to energy markets through bidding and dispatch and minimised network issues by enforcing dynamic operating envelopes.
The project successfully demonstrated how to better manage high solar and battery uptake and gathered valuable insights to inform future regulatory change.
Key project figures
- EDGE integrates controllable DER with the wholesale market
- Mondo submits a bid file to buy and sell energy every 5 minutes
- Customers maximised access to exports through dynamic operating envelopes
Benefits from our solution
Frequently Asked Questions
A virtual power plant (VPP) is a network of small electricity generators (like rooftop solar) and consumers, working together independently of traditional energy networks to achieve a stronger shared and interdependent outcome.
Distributed energy resources (DER) are the name given to renewable energy units or systems that are commonly located at houses or businesses to provide them with power. Common examples of DER include rooftop solar PV units, battery storage, thermal energy storage, electric vehicles and chargers, smart meters, and home energy management technologies.
DER aggregation is when a group of Distributed Energy Resources combine their generation output together to operate as a single entity. A single household solar system only generates a very small amount of electricity in comparison to a large power station, however if hundreds or even thousands of households could combine their solar output, they could potentially compete with the output of a traditional power station.
EDGE was a project funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Australian Energy Market Operators (AEMO) that began in 2021. Working with Government, third party installer partners, local energy groups and energy network operators the project was able to acquire interested customers within the area.
After Project EDGE’s success, Australia Energy Market (AMEO) and Australia Renewable ARENA are forecasting that industry key players will be proactively planning fleet orchestration and VPP approaches to make the offer a mass market solution with these project findings.
