SolarZero

Until recently, Solar Zero was one of New Zealand’s largest solar energy and flexibility services companies, dedicated to making solar energy accessible to everyone. They were successful in developing the largest VPP (Virtual Power Plant) in New Zealand.

Solution

Solar Zero developed a large residential VPP in New Zealand and during winter2023, they coordinated over 10,000residential solar and battery systems with a combined capacity of approximately 30MW. Through the Winter Peak Innovation Initiative, Solar Zero demonstrated that its VPP could be dispatched using existing systems during winter peak periods when available capacity was critically low.

Since the System Operator flags concerns when available capacity drops below200 MW, the additional 30 MW provided by Solar Zero in winter 2023 proved valuable. By November 2024, Solar Zero had expanded its VPP to nearly 50 MW by continuing to add residential solar and battery systems. The established VPP is capable of use under new arrangements.

Impact Unlocked

In addition to offering flexible capacity to manage winter peaks in New Zealand, a VPP can help reduce CO2 emissions. For example, if a 30 MW VPP offsets coal-fired power generation (with an emission rate of 800 kg/MWh), each use of this winter peak product could save approximately 48 tonnes of CO2.

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Ara Ake Contribution

Ara Ake has been pivotal in two key areas. First, it served as a facilitator with Transpower and the Electricity Authority, helping to navigate both the requirements outlined in the Electricity Code and the technical specifications of the dispatch system. The parties were collectively undertaking something unprecedented, and assistance from Ara Ake in guiding all parties through the regulatory and technical landscape, while capturing valuable learnings along the way, was essential. Second, Ara Ake support signalled strong commitment to the project and accelerated its progress.