SA homes with solar virtual power plants can get up to 45c per kWh – but which operator is best?

You’ve got the solar panels on your roof, but how can you earn money for feeding power into the grid - and which scheme offers the most? Compare all the deals here.

Savvy solar households are taking a closer look at the benefits of batteries and joining a growing number of “virtual power plants” across the state cashing in on the energy crisis.

Each VPP is a network of solar panels and batteries controlled by a central operator.

Using Wi-Fi and software, the operator can dispatch energy from the batteries to play the market.

In South Australia there’s already a dozen VPP operators offering financial incentives and other benefits that sound too good to be true, such as 45c per kWh paid for excess solar when the grid needs it most.

“These incentives can include discounted solar and battery systems or lease-to-own plans, reward payments, low electricity tariffs, back-up protection, and credits on your electricity bill,” the state government says.

SolarQuotes founder and chief executive Finn Peacock, based in Brighton, has changed his tune on solar batteries now that feed-in tariffs are falling and electricity rates are rising.

He advises customers to shop around, compare quotes and consider energy plans with time-of-use tariffs before handing control over to a VPP.

Andrea and Jeremy Pluck have joined Mitcham's Community Renewable Energy Program. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“The irony is that a lot of people want a battery to take control of their electricity, but really what they’re doing (in a VPP) is giving control of their electricity to someone else,” he said. “So it is important you read the small print and see what they can and can’t do.”

Mitcham residents and businesses are being invited to take part in a bulk-buy of solar and battery systems through the council’s community renewable energy program.

Mitcham Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross said the idea was to help ratepayers “save money and at the same time save the planet”.

“This will be a trial for local government, but already mayors and CEOs from other councils are going, ‘Oh my God that’s genius’,” she said. “The response has been more than we ever dreamt of, almost 10 per cent of households have shown interest.”

Andrea and Jeremy Pluck, who run their business Remedial Therapies SA out of their Bellevue Heights home, were “thrilled” to upgrade their solar system and join the virtual power plant.

“We obviously know the benefits of the solar panels,” Mrs Pluck said, “but with the feed-in tariff dropping and then Mitcham Council and ShineHub coming along at the right time, we decided to have some more panels and a battery installed as well … with no upfront cost.”

Originally published as SA homes with solar virtual power plants can get up to 45c per kWh – but which operator is best?