How SwitchDin is supporting inverters for SA Smarter Homes requirements - and a look at what’s next
PV and hybrid inverters from a range of manufacturers now couple with SwitchDin Droplets to meet the South Australian government’s mandatory ‘Remote Disconnection and Reconnection’ requirement under the state’s Smarter Homes rules.
This list will grow as more products are integrated into SwitchDin’s platform and will include both hardware (Droplet) and API integrations with third party devices.
SwitchDin’s technology allows various combinations of products with different Smarter Homes ‘Relevant Agents’ - the entities responsible for carrying out Remote Disconnection and Reconnection orders. Relevant Agents are able to use SwitchDin’s platform to fulfil their duties in this capacity.
At the time of writing, the combinations that SwitchDin enables include those in the table below. A continuously updated list can be found at www.switchdin.com/sa-sh/.
(A full list of SwitchDin’s integrations is available at www.switchdin.com/support/. We also support a number of solutions for South Australia’s Home Battery Scheme.)
We note that while all of the below options require our Droplet hardware (except for Eguana Technologies’ system, which has built-in Droplet software), SwitchDin is also developing API integrations with a number of manufacturers.
The list of devices supported by SwitchDin will grow as more products are integrated into SwitchDin’s platform and will include both hardware (Droplet) and API integrations with third party devices.
SwitchDin-supported devices work with SA Power Networks as Relevant Agent
As per the description on the Relevant Agent list, SwitchDin supports SA Power Networks to be the nominated Relevant Agent across a range of inverter products that we integrate with. This means that SA Power Networks will be able to support a growing number of devices as they are added into our integration library. We will provide updates about these devices (and other news) via our social channels as well as our mailing list.
More than one way to make homes smarter
There are a number of technological approaches to meeting the Smarter Homes Remote Disconnection and Reconnection requirement. The same will be true for the export control requirement.
Under the Smarter Homes scheme, a ‘Relevant Agent’ is responsible for switching systems off in an emergency event. Every new system being installed must have a Relevant Agent who takes responsibility for it.
Although it’s slightly complicated in that the end user has the option to choose their own agent, the breakdown of the technology options are roughly as per the table below.
SwitchDin can support all of these approaches through collaboration with equipment manufacturers, and in some instances will be able to enable multiple options for the same device.
The table below provides an overview of the options for meeting the Remote Disconnection and Reconnection requirement.
Ready for the future of Smarter Homes - and beyond
We view Smarter Homes requirements as just the beginning of the opportunities for SwitchDin to help manufacturers turn their equipment into the building blocks of a cleaner, more distributed energy system. Our platform accommodates Smarter Homes requirements for Remote Disconnection and Reconnection and will also offer solutions for the incoming dynamic export limit requirement (which will be complemented by the work we will be undertaking for the Flexible Exports solution with SA Power Networks, Ausnet Services and ARENA). On the back of our expertise and experience from other markets like Western Australia and Queensland, we are able to help manufacturers ensure that their products meet these requirements.
Benefits of using the SwitchDin platform in installations. Download SwitchDin’s brochure for end users on our Support & Resources page.
But our vision - and capabilities - go well beyond simple compliance. In addition to enabling inverters to meet the basic requirements for these two compelling Smarter Homes initiatives, Droplets unlock a trove of other values for end users through the products that they integrate with.
Our tech is being developed to help end users make the most of their solar and batteries for the new time-of-use (TOU) ‘solar sponge’ tariffs introduced as part of Smarter Homes. Retailers in the state have rushed to offer plans on this tariff in a market that had until then had few TOU offers. Altogether, there are big opportunities for households to maximise their savings here with the right combination of behind-the-meter asset management, tariff structure, pricing, and retailer programs.
Beyond this, SwitchDin is also unlocking access to virtual power plant (VPP) participation with retailer and network operator-run programs that offer benefits to the end user, plus easy future system expansion (more solar or battery storage) that also enables whole-of-system monitoring and functionality even with different brands of equipment.
What’s happening in South Australia with rooftop solar has implications for the rest of the world, as rooftop solar becomes increasingly affordable and compelling. SwitchDin is pleased to be helping different players in the energy sector come together to make the energy transition a smooth one.