Data requirements to optimise CER/DER benefits

Chief investigators

David Roche, UTS
Dr Rob Passey, UNSW

Purpose of project

• Distribution Network Service Providers (DNSPs) currently have limited visibility of what is happening behind the meter, making it difficult to optimise increasing levels of rooftop solar, batteries and electric vehicles.
• Existing approaches often rely on incomplete network visibility and conservative assumptions, which can limit the benefits of Consumer Energy Resources (CER) for both consumers and the electricity network.
• The project will identify the minimum datasets needed from behind-the-meter and other data sources to support high-value network and consumer use cases.
• It will assess what data is needed, where it can be sourced, how it can be accessed, and how it can be shared with DNSPs in a practical and cost-effective way.
• The research aims to establish a common evidence base to support future data-sharing frameworks, standards and network planning approaches.

Impact of project

• Improved visibility of low-voltage networks and behind-the-meter energy resources.
• Better-informed planning and operational decision making for DNSPs.
• More efficient integration of rooftop solar, batteries, electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources.
• Support for use cases such as dynamic operating envelopes, hosting capacity assessment, voltage visibility, network utilisation analysis, fault detection, and EV integration.
• Improved consumer outcomes through better network visibility, more efficient connections, and increased opportunities to benefit from CER participation.
• Practical guidance for industry, regulators, and policymakers on future data-sharing and interoperability frameworks.

Project partners