SwitchDin at All-Energy 2018: Highlights
All-Energy is the biggest industry event on the renewable energy calendar, and 2018 did not disappoint. The free-to-attend conference & exhibition was attended by over 7,000 people, with nearly 250 vendors displaying their wares.
SwitchDin CEO Andrew Mears, COO Gary Childs & communications manager James Martin were in attendance at All-Energy to support our partners, meet new prospective partners and to learn about what’s happening in Australia’s energy space.
The four biggest highlights for SwitchDin were:
1. Minister’s announcement about our microgrid project with Walnut Energy for BCG
At the opening plenary session, Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced grant funding for a microgrid project for Birchip Cropping Group, an agricultural research body based in rural Victoria.
SwitchDin and partner Walnut Energy developed this project, which will demonstrate how microgrids can improve energy supply reliability for rural businesses.
VIC energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio gives the opening speech for All-Energy 2018. (Photo by Darren Gladman of the CEC.)
2. Eguana Technologies making a splash with their SwitchDin-controlled Evolve battery system
Canada-based Eguana Technologies made their big Australian debut at All-Energy, with an eye-catching booth and ceiling-high signage. SwitchDin provides the energy management system (EMS) layer for Eguana’s Evolve home battery storage system.
Eguana is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power control solutions for residential & commercial energy storage systems. The company will also be using the SwitchDin EMS for its battery storage systems soon to be launched into the European market.
SwitchDin CEO Dr Andrew Mears gives a tour of the Eguana Evolve battery (powered by SwitchDin).
3. Sungrow product portfolio expansion incorporates SwitchDin-powered units
Inverter giant Sungrow Power announced that they have trebled their product portfolio in Australia, with nine new products now shipping into Australia. The company’s commercial-industrial inverter products incorporate a SwitchDin controller as their smart EMS, and the company has also recently integrated with SwitchDin to meet the eligibility criteria for ‘VPP-readiness’ under South Australia’s new home battery incentive scheme. Further details about our collaboration are forthcoming.
4. Spreading the word about VPP-readiness with SwitchDin
At All-Energy we spoke with a number of partners, prospective partners and new acquaintances about making distributed systems VPP-ready with SwitchDin. Most inverters on the market are not likely to be compliant on their own; however, by adding a SwitchDin Droplet controller they can enable VPP functions.
After reviewing the South Australian government’s technical paper for the Home Battery Scheme, SwitchDin can confirm that our technology helps most vendors meet the criteria towards being VPP-ready under the program. We’ll be releasing more details in the coming days and can provide assistance to vendors in responding to the South Australian compliance program. Please get in touch below or join our mailing list if you’d like to learn more.