EnergyAustralia launches ‘next generation’ smart system

EnergyAustralia is putting consumers in the “driving seat” with the launch of its “next generation” smart hybrid system.

The Redback Smart Hybrid System, developed through EnergyAustralia’s partnership with Brisbane-based Redback Technologies, combines a solar inverter, battery enclosure and intelligent energy management software into a seamless package.

“The Redback system is the next generation in energy storage and management with a sharp ability to learn and respond to how people consume their energy, based on their preferences,” EnergyAustralia NextGen executive Andrew Perry said.

“This is the future of energy technology, created with one aim: to put the customer in the driving seat so they can decide how they use, store and even sell their solar energy.”

Mr Perry said with electricity and gas prices at record highs, customers were increasingly demanding affordable, innovative technology that helps them manage their energy consumption.

“In the past 12 months, we’ve seen energy prices surge while in some states the lights have gone out,” he said.

“It’s no surprise there’s growing appetite for new technologies with the potential to shake-up the energy sector.

“There’s a revolution happening right now in energy and customers will say it’s about time.”

In its fourth annual retail energy competition review, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) found around one in five homes already use solar power.

It’s forecast that by 2027, more than 40 per cent of customers will have adopted on site-distributed energy, based on the CSIRO’s electricity network transformation roadmap.

“We are bringing the new generation of Redback technology to market – giving Australians access to a seamlessly integrated hardware and software package that enables customers to save money by consuming more of the solar energy they produce on site,” Redback Technologies’ founder and managing director Philip Livingston said.

“This is an exciting time as there’s never been a better opportunity for Australia’s energy industry to take proactive steps toward a grid powered by renewables.

“With the launch of the second generation Redback Smart Hybrid System we are not only putting consumers in control of their energy, we’re paving the way for a clean energy tomorrow that will benefit future generations.”

The Redback Smart Hybrid Inverter has a 5kW power output. When combined with the Redback battery enclosure and compatible batteries, the system can store up to 13.2kWh of electricity, enough to meet 75 per cent of the average home’s daily energy needs.

The Redback Smart Hybrid Inverter stores excess solar in the battery and when there isn’t enough solar available, the battery discharges, minimising draw from the grid to help keep costs down.

The system is also capable of predicting household usage patterns and solar energy production using machine learning and proprietary algorithms developed by Redback.

Customers can also use the Redback app to monitor and control their energy use from a smartphone or tablet.

Prices for the system starts at around $9000, which includes solar and battery storage, and could save a household about $1500 annually.

The Redback Smart Hybrid Inverter launch follows EnergyAustralia’s $9.3 million investment in the system’s developer, Redback Technologies, in October last year.

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