New funding will allow a tech firm to explore using customer data to improve energy systems. 

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $446,000 in funding to technology company UPowr Pty Ltd (UPowr) to explore how customer insights can be used in the design of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) initiatives.

The project aims to demonstrate how a deeper understanding of customers can be used to increase their willingness to participate in DER orchestration programs by reshaping the design, engagement, communication and presentation of these programs to customers.

DER orchestration programs enable aggregators, such as an electricity retailer or virtual power plant (VPP), to control and optimise behind-the-meter assets like rooftop solar and batteries. 

Orchestration enables more efficient use of these assets, like providing systems to optimise the charging of home batteries, tap into revenue streams such as network services, and provide more convenience to customers. 

Orchestration provides greater benefits to the grid by providing services and also better commercial returns to owners who gain more value from their assets.

The $943,155 project will encourage customers from Victoria, New South Wales, and potentially Queensland and South Australia to participate.

UPowr will leverage their own existing digital platform to offer third-party battery assets and battery orchestration programs to rooftop solar customers interested in purchasing a household battery. 

Behavioral science will be used to develop a customer segmentation framework to tailor a unique product offering and customer journey based on their motivations, values and thought processes. 

UPowr aims to practically demonstrate how customer insights can be used in the development and delivery of orchestration programs – an end-to-end approach that has not been demonstrated in the industry.