Recent rooftop solar installations in South Australia can be remotely switched off by the operator of Australia’s main grid (AEMO), and other states are expected to follow suit over the next few years. No-one relishes the idea of Big Brother messing with their personal property, but it’s clear that such a system has become necessary, at least during exceptional events.
Solar is no longer alternative energy – it’s a mainstream, major contributor to our electricity supply. During sunny weekends with mild weather, SA’s rooftop solar generation will soon exceed the state’s demand, potentially causing a blackout. At such times, rooftop generation must be curtailed to avoid an over-supply.
In this presentation hosted by Renew’s Melbourne Branch, Andrew Reddaway will explain why this “solar switch-off” is needed, how it works and implications for consumers. Andrew is a project coordinator at the Australian Energy Foundation, having previously worked at Renew and AEMO. His qualifications include solar installation training and a degree in mechanical engineering. Andrew has advised householders on sustainability via several methods, including talkback ABC radio.
After the meeting there will be a short Annual General Meeting, with a shout out for new committee members, and ideas for future meetings, either webinar or face to face as restrictions are relaxed.
The recent recording of our October event with Craig Reucassel and others is available on YouTube here.
Tickets:
- You will receive the necessary web link for the webinar from this ticketing system.
- We have a capacity of 1000 people.
- Tickets for the webinar are free.
- Renew depends on the generosity of our community to continue its valuable work. We would welcome your donation here: renew.org.au/donate or via the additional donation option when choosing your ticket.