The New Energy Future is coming and the change has already begun.
These changes require a re-wiring of the energy system, policies, contracts and regulation. Australia needs to develop a smart and flexible network capable of balancing and supporting distributed energy resources. If adequately supported, these new technologies could act to minimise redundancies, increase consumer choice and reduce capital costs, leading to lower electricity prices.
Whether it's the mass adoption of solar PV, rapidly falling battery costs, new smart technologies or newly empowered consumers – technology and economics are transforming the energy industry. The pace and impact of these changes are already having major ramifications for the industry in Australia and are likely to drive the wider integration and deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) globally.
Competing views are emerging about precisely what the New Energy Future will look like. Despite this, we can all agree on one thing – a transformation is inevitable and it will require a shift in how energy markets function physically, commercially and legally.
