ROUNDUP: Aussie storage trial, CEFC funding, ViZn adds experience

May 19, 2016
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The trial will include 100 storage systems from a combination of Tesla and Samsung. Source: Tesla.
SA Power Networks to issue 100 Tesla and Samsung batteries in trial

19 May 2016: SA Power Networks is set to issue around 100 Tesla Energy and Samsung batteries in Salisbury as part of Australia’s biggest test of combined solar and energy storage in an established community.

The trial will begin in June and will examine the benefits of combining solar and battery storage in order to avoid the issue of developing added network infrastructure to meet growth in local electricity demand.

A selected group of consumers in Salisbury will receive letters over the coming weeks asking of their interest in the trial. Eligible customers will earn significant financial assistance in terms of purchasing batteries and solar panels, and are also guaranteed a minimum of US$500 in savings annually on their electricity bill.

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ViZn appoints new board members

18 May 2016: Energy storage system manufacturer ViZn, announced today that Kent Williams will join the company’s board of directors and that Joshua Bar-Lev (former VP, regulatory affairs at Bright Source Energy) has been appointed to ViZn’s advisory board. Williams and Bar-Lev have over 80 years of successful leadership roles and strategic business experience in the energy industry.

“Kent and Joshua are both true heavy-hitters in the business world and each possesses impressive energy industry experience,” said Ron Van Dell, CEO, ViZn. “Kent brings a wealth of alternative energy knowledge and access to capital markets while Joshua is an expert on negotiating policy surrounding industry regulation and is a true champion for renewable energy.”

CEFC and Westpac to help Australian businesses invest in storage

17 May 2016: Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and renewable energy financier Westpac are to provide low cost finance for Australian businesses to invest in solar, storage and other low emission technologies.

The AU$200 million (US$146 million) ‘Westpac Energy Efficient Financing Program’ will be used to give customers a 0.7% discount on finance for qualifying projects, such as solar PV, low emissions vehicles and battery storage. Westpac will also offer finance leases, commercial loans and commercial hire purchase finance.

The finance, for up to 100% of the project cost, is available for terms of up to 10 years, for individual projects starting at AU$15,000.

17 March 2026
Sydney, Australia
As we move into 2026, Australia is seeing real movement in emerging as a global ‘green’ superpower, with energy storage at the heart of this. This Summit will explore in-depth the ‘exponential growth of a unique market’, providing a meeting place for investors and developers’ appetite to do business. The second edition will shine a greater spotlight on behind-the-meter developments, with the distribution network being responsible for a large capacity of total energy storage in Australia. Understanding connection issues, the urgency of transitioning to net zero, optimal financial structures, and the industry developments in 2026 and beyond.

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