News and Announcements
Planet Ark Power enabling localised, urban solar farms globally
- Published August 19, 2019 12:00AM UTC
- Publisher Wholesale Investor
- Categories Company Updates
Highlights
- Planet Ark Power’s smart voltage management system has featured in PV Magazine showcasing its capability to dynamically manage grid instability caused by a surplus of rooftop solar energy exporting into electricity networks.
- Developed over six years by a team of electrical engineers with over 300 years of energy utility management and operational experience, this new technology platform uses dynamic reactive power control to keep network voltages within statutory limits, at all times, allowing the optimal export of clean and reliable power from distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar.
- Voltage instability is increasingly challenging network operators and industry alike and the bringing to market of this technology opens the door for commercial-scale rooftop solar to flow to the grid and the creation of urban solar farms for clean, low-cost energy solutions.
Planet Ark Power’s smart voltage management system has featured in PV Magazine showcasing its capability to dynamically manage grid instability caused by a surplus of rooftop solar energy exporting into low voltage electricity networks. Surplus solar energy is created from surplus energy from rooftop solar panels feeding back into the grid causing excess demands on the network.
Developed over six years by a team of electrical engineers with over 300 years of utility management and operational experience, this world-first technology uses dynamic reactive power control to increases or decrease the voltage on the network. Using VAR (What is VAR?) management, it maintains voltage within statutory limits, at all times, to deliver clean and reliable power.
Voltage regulation is increasingly challenging network operators and industry in Australia and overseas and the bringing to market of this technology opens the door for commercial-scale rooftop solar to flow to the grid and the creation of urban solar farms for clean, low-cost energy. Not only will it provide clean and low-cost energy alternatives, but also a revenue stream for commercial building owners by allowing unlimited export of clean energy into the grid.
Australia has the highest residential rooftop solar penetration in the world. The uptake of rooftop solar due to government grants and improved affordability to home-owners means its popularity as an alternative energy source continues to grow. The emergence of grid instability has led to restrictions on the export of surplus solar energy back into the grid and the curtailing of investment in large-scale rooftop solar installations in the commercial and industrial sectors. The introduction of Power Ark’s Power Smart Voltage System will mean the end to such restrictions and opens up opportunities to bring remote solar farms into cities where the energy is consumed, thereby avoiding transmission losses and charges.
About Planet Ark Power
Planet Ark Power is looking to dynamise the world’s energy grids with distributed clean energy. They were recognised as an energy transition pioneer at the 2019 Start-Up Energy Transition Awards in Berlin for its game-changing behind-the-meter technology.
Planet Ark Power’s technology allows every rooftop to be filled with solar panels, resulting in a 1,300% increase compared to today’s limitations. Their unique solution can also cut the cost of supplying energy off-grid and in the developing world, by delivering off-grid clean energy at up to 75% less than current diesel or renewable alternatives.