The ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) has reportedly invested USD 451,000 in power electronics firm eleXsys Energy to support the Brisbane-based company’s new distributed energy resources (DER) device that can potentially be connected to the grid.

eleXsys Energy’s new technology essentially focuses on increasing the adoption of home solar as well as batteries in low-voltage localities, further reducing the need to build an expensive distribution grid infrastructure.

The device regulates voltage on low voltage power lines by offering or absorbing reactive power. Thus, eleXsys can better use DER by maintaining voltage within normal operating bands, further benefiting DER customers to achieve sustainability.

Trials worth USD 1.92 million will also be conducted along with a DNSP Energy Queensland, to see how the device behaves over a variety of network types. Insights from this trial could also benefit those DNSPs that are participating in a dedicated stakeholder group.

eleXsys Energy will produce and install at least five of its devices, of which three will be directly connected to Energy Queenland’s network. Among the remaining two, one will go for trial on a customer premise while the other will be utilized for testing at the Real Time Digital Simulator facility.

According to Darren Miller, the CEO of ARENA, was quoted saying that the new DER technology will play a critical role in increasing the volume of energy being distributed, with the company helping in avoiding costly network settings amidst growing energy demand.

Meanwhile, eleXsys Energy CEO Dr. Bevan Holcomb stated that ARENA's and Energy Queensland's support is important in demonstrating the application of eleXsys in the residential energy market. The trial will also show if the company can accommodate a much higher volume of exports.

It is worth noting that ARENA has invested approximately USD 100 million in DER projects and formed a Distributed Energy Integration Program (DIEP), which is a collaboration between market participants, consumer associations, and government organizations. 

Source Credit- https://www.energymagazine.com.au/arena-invests-450000-in-new-der-invention/