Am always reading up on this sort of stuff... so was wondering if anyone had opinions on combining smart meters with energy storage (as have been trialled more widely worldwide in the last couple of years).
Am partial to smart meters... as they are the first step to many benefits available in a smart "grid".. even for the ability to identify network faults and respond more quickly to them.
Just not sure if even high energy prices will curb consumers appetite for Air-con and other modern luxuries.
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Roll-out smart meters on a large scale (as has been done in California/Texas etc etc etc)....
...AND install energy storage at as many homes as is practical.....so their is no peak or at very least much less peak load.... with the energy storage acting as an electrical buffer.
Energy storage giving the consumer the ability to shift their demand profile to suit themselves.... and to sell cheap energy back to the grid at a profit in peak periods (smart meter allowing the grid to "request" energy back from your surplus as required).
Instead of spending so much on extra grid capacity in poles and wires... take a different direction and invest in the ability to store energy.
Would allow you to use your own solar PV energy to feed energy storage at low demand hours, and draw power from the energy storage when the peak demand is happening, or when the sun has set for the evening and you return home.
Smart meter/ grid operator would be able to switch to storage/solar/diesel in rural bushfire season "extreme fire danger" days..... allowing the 240/415V grid to be turned off. Consumers limited to storage and "self-generation".
Plus... gives some degree of back-up power if and when the grid fails.
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What sort of pay-back period you would be happy with for storage...etc?
Any absolute need for smart meter in this setup... or enough benefits with only storage?
