Virtual Power Plant
Be a part of the future of energy
in New Zealand.
What is a VPP?
A network of decentralised generation and load sources we can combine and control to benefit you and help support the local electricity network.
VPPs will be critical to effectively manage the increased electrification of New Zealand. By storing energy, particularly energy produced by solar panels, and using it at critical times we can help defer costly electricity network upgrades, enable the uptake of more electric vehicles, and facilitate a major increase in renewable generation, generation critical to New Zealand reaching our NetZero 2050 targets.
Our VPP also includes smart devices that can be controlled to move consumption away from peak network periods e.g. hot water control & EV charging. This holistic approach provides the maximum benefit from new energy technologies.
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Ecotricity VPP
How does it benefit you?
Time-of-Use pricing
We will be able to shift load to enable you to take advantage of Time-of-Use pricing and can also program devices to discharge into the house or the local network during peak network periods.
Get a $30 energy credit
Receive a $30 energy credit monthly for a 12-month term.
Eco BATTERY Price Plan
If you have solar installed by one of our trusted solar partners, you will get access to competitive solar buyback rates.
12 month trial
Be the first to get involved. After the trial concludes, we will launch our final VPP product to the market.
Pricing Products
Competitive Price Plans
Our VPP Trial works perfectly in conjunction with our eco price plans. Contact us or your local solar installer to get set up today.
ecoSAVER
Lower off peak rates.
No exit fees.
Includes lines losses.
Ideal for customers with an EV.
ecoBATTERY
Competitive buyback rates up to -16c/kWh excl. GST.
No exit fees & excludes lines losses.
Requires a home battery.
ecoWHOLESALE
Direct access to half-hourly Spot prices.
No exit fees & excludes lines losses.
Ideal for customers with an EV and a home battery.
How It Works
What you need to know
- The trial will be running for an initial 12-month term. After the trial concludes, we will launch our final VPP product to market.
- We will control your devices at certain times of the day to maximise benefits to you, the network and the grid.
- There are no penalties if you decide to leave within the 12-month trial period, just let us know via email 30-days in advance.
- You will receive a $30 energy credit per month for the 12-month trial term which works to offset consumption on your monthly energy invoices.
- Ideally your battery system will have at least 10kWh of storage capacity, contact us to discuss eligible devices and manufacturers.
FAQs
Our VPP works to enhance user experience so you can get the most of your battery and hot water systems. There will be no negative impact on your day-to-day experience with solar – rest assured you’ll be seeing all the benefits of Time-of-Use pricing as always. How is the VPP control going to impact my system capacity and user experience?
The pilot programme will run for an initial 12-month term. Once the initial trial concludes, we will launch our final VPP product. We will liaise with you closer to the end of the trial regarding our next steps forward. How long does the pilot programme run for?
Upon sign up with Ecotricity, your energy rates and buyback prices are fixed for a 12-month term. This trial programme does not change these terms of agreement. We want to provide our customers with as much protection from the volatility of the energy market as possible. What is the duration for the rates provided by Ecotricity under this programme?
Once the trial is coming to an end, we will liaise with you regarding future developments of the platform. If you decide to remove yourself from the programme at any point, we will pass all control of battery and inverter devices back to you. What happens to my battery at the end of the programme?
There are no penalties if you decide to leave within the 12-month trial period. We just need notice via email 30-days in advance. Can I leave the programme?
We are committed to offering an excellent experience. However, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Maggie at magdalena.grunwald@ecotricity.co.nz or 021 237 1515, or alternatively contact the Utilities Disputes on 0800 22 33 40 What happens if I have a dispute or if something goes wrong?
We will not be cycling batteries more than they would be cycled normally. We have worked with our hardware partners to ensure that our cycling is not at odds with their standard functionality. Will the trial reduce battery life due to increased cycling?
