Rheem Active Hot Water Control
- $734k Funded by ARENA
- $3.7m Total project cost
Summary
The Rheem Active Hot Water Control project aims to demonstrate active control over residential hot water systems in South Australia.
Need
South Australia has a fast growing renewable energy industry. Currently it is grappling with excess rooftop solar PV generated during the day when there is less demand for it. This generation is often curtailed and exported to other parts of the National Electricity Market but these exports are reaching their limits. The challenge is finding ways to maximise the use of renewable energy when it is cheap and plentiful. One way this could be done is by managing when electric water heaters are charged. Currently water heaters charge overnight or, in a home with solar PV, in the early morning or evening when demand for energy is high. The Rheem Active Hot Water Control project aims to introduce new and flexible options for grid management by testing ways to manage when hot water heaters are charged.
Outcome
Although the project faced challenges impacting customer recruitment, it successfully demonstrated that actively controlled hot water systems can improve solar self-consumption and significantly contribute to reducing peak export on the network when compared to uncontrolled hot water systems. This is a benefit to the distribution network which can be shared further with customers.
Learn more
Report: South Australian Smart Network Project Lessons Learnt 2
This is the second lessons learnt report for the SA Smart Network project. While the project is still at a relatively early stage, the experience gained to date in deploying such a novel product in the real-world has provided insights that are already proving valuable for the rest of the project
Report: ARENA Insights Spotlight: Rheem Smart Network
We sat down with Malcom McEwan, CEO of CET to find out how the project rewards customers for supporting the local network through the use of home energy management systems.
Media Release: Storing Excess Solar from the Grid Using Hot Water Systems
ARENA announced $1.98 million in funding to Rheem Australia to conduct its Active Hot Water Control project using hot water systems in South Australia.
Report: Rheem Performance Report 1
This first Performance Report outlines the methodologies and data that will be employed to measure the following outcomes: network value, customer value, aggregator value, supplier value.
Action
Rheem will test the feasibility and value of aggregating approximately 2400 hot water systems to provide services in the wholesale energy and Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS) markets.
As part of the trial, Rheem will reward consumers for participating in demand management of hot water systems and test incentives required for customer participation across solar and non-solar homes, as well as across different socioeconomic groups.
Outcome
Although the project faced challenges impacting customer recruitment, it successfully demonstrated that actively controlled hot water systems can improve solar self-consumption and significantly contribute to reducing peak export on the network when compared to uncontrolled hot water systems. This is a benefit to the distribution network which can be shared further with customers.
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