New funding is set to create a data exchange for consumer energy resources. 

ARENA has allocated a grant of $1.2 million to the AEMO and AusNet to jointly design a Consumer Energy Resources (CER) Data Exchange, aiming to streamline and enhance the integration of consumer energy resources within the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The proponents say the CER Data Exchange will create a common digital infrastructure to facilitate information sharing, market access, and coordination across the NEM. 

This initiative, referred to as a ‘digital spine’, is expected to simplify and mitigate risks associated with CER integration, benefiting industry participants and maximising the value of energy resources.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller says the project will be significant in integrating renewable energy sources like rooftop solar into the electricity grid. 

“As an ever-growing share of our electricity comes from sources like rooftop solar, work needs to be done to properly integrate these resources into the electricity grid,” Miller says.

He added that the initiative would not only unlock the value of CER but also encourage investment and drive the transition to renewable electricity.

AEMO says it plans to collaborate extensively with industry stakeholders in the design of the CER Data Exchange. 

The effort will include a series of workshops to understand industry needs, explore data governance and operating models, and identify a preferred option. 

The project builds on the recommendations from Project EDGE, an ARENA-funded AEMO initiative that demonstrated a proof-of-concept CER marketplace. 

A cost-benefit analysis by Deloitte Access Economics for Project EDGE suggested that the CER Data Exchange could unlock between $5.15 billion and $6.04 billion in benefits over the next 20 years.

According to AEMO’s 2024 Draft Integrated System Plan (ISP) Step Change scenario, by 2050, the NEM could incorporate 86 GW of rooftop solar and 27 GW of flexible demand. 

However, without adequate digital infrastructure, these resources might be poorly integrated and underutilised, preventing consumers and the electricity grid from realising their full potential.

Work on the CER Data Exchange has commenced, with the first workshop scheduled for June 2024. Project recommendations are expected by late 2024. 

AEMO will hold a public webinar June 6 to outline the project, its goals, and ways to participate.