A new $11 million pilot program will demonstrate how rooftop solar, home batteries and virtual power plant technology can reduce power bills for social housing tenants in the Illawarra and create a more reliable electricity network for the region.
The Minns Labor Government is delivering the Social Housing Virtual Power Plant pilot to support the rollout of solar panels and batteries for selected social housing properties in the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
The Australian Government will provide $10 million and the NSW Government will contribute $1 million. The Commonwealth funding is part of the Albanese Government’s recent $145 million expansion of the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative.
Virtual power plants connect energy systems across multiple homes, allowing stored power to be used or exported when it is most valuable to households and the electricity grid.
The pilot will install rooftop solar panels and batteries on selected social housing properties, creating immediate cost-of-living benefits for residents.
