Port of Brisbane solar installation
Port of Brisbane signs new contract extending Virtual Energy Network for a further 33 months
An innovative virtual “solar sharing” initiative is demonstrating the potential to help Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) supersize its investment in solar energy and improve its bottom line.
Momentum Energy’s Virtual Energy Network (VEN) leverages the Enosi Powertracer Platform to facilitate the seamless virtual transfer of the benefits of locally generated solar energy across Port of Brisbane sites.
The VEN enables commercial and industrial customers to virtually “share” the benefits of their excess solar between multiple sites, financially offsetting their energy consumption from the grid. The VEN will soon be available to small business customers as well.
Momentum’s VEN is particularly suited for organisations that produce more solar than they can use at a single location and want to “share” that across locations that can’t host a solar array; that want to reduce power costs with solar; and that prefer to trade their own solar than purchase and transfer Large Scale Generation Certificates (LGCs).
The Port of Brisbane is proudly Momentum’s first VEN customer. When it built its International Cruise Terminal in 2020, it installed an 800kw rooftop solar system which generated more electricity than it could use at the passenger terminal.
Under the VEN, Port of Brisbane can now virtually share the benefits of that locally generated solar across its other PBPL-operated sites at the Port.
Instead of Port of Brisbane receiving a small feed-in tariff, Momentum financially offsets that excess solar production against the energy used at other PBPL-operated sites, which has led to significant energy cost savings and greater utilisation of solar generated.
Both parties believe in Virtual Energy Networks as a model for other businesses looking to maximise the benefit of solar without having to instal it on multiple sites.
Port of Brisbane Executive General Manager Sustainability & Corporate Relations, Brendan Connell, said PBPL was pleased with how the initial phase had progressed and had extended its contract with Momentum for a further 33 months.
“The Virtual Energy Network is an innovative but easy to use tool to more effectively utilise our onsite solar assets,” said Mr Connell.
“When we built the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, we installed an 800kw rooftop solar system but it generated more electricity – around 1400 MWh – than we were able to use at the terminal itself.
“Now the VEN is established, we’re sharing the benefits of that solar power across our own facilities. It’s supporting our Net Zero ambitions and demonstrating our sustainability commitment to our customers and stakeholders.”
Momentum Energy Managing Director Lisa Chiba said that while the Port of Brisbane VEN was about maximising the benefits of an existing solar installation, other businesses might utilise a VEN to invest in larger solar arrays than originally planned.
“With a faster return on investment, Momentum’s VEN might incentivise C&I customers to invest in solar on a much larger scale than they normally would.
“Momentum is proud to support our C&I customers embrace the benefits of large scale solar and help them play a part in the energy transition.”
The Momentum VEN uses the Enosi Powertracer Platform which delivers solar energy traceability, running on data collected from smart meters at all sites, matched every thirty minutes.
Participation in the VEN is currently open to eligible commercial and industrial customers who have an energy contract with Momentum. In the Port of Brisbane’s case, they have a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) through which they purchase renewable energy certificates (LGCs) from the Granville Harbour Wind Farm in Tasmania.
About Momentum Energy: Momentum Energy is 100 per cent owned by Hydro Tasmania, Australia’s largest generator of renewable energy and supports the shift to renewables by being a trusted partner to businesses and households looking to decarbonise.
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