What is a Virtual Energy Network (VEN)?  

A Virtual Energy Network, or VEN for short allows Momentum business customers to put excess solar energy to good use by sharing the benefit of it with other sites in their organisation.

It’s great to see more and more Australian businesses using solar solutions to reduce their carbon emissions and we think you should be rewarded for doing the right thing and get the most from every drop of solar energy that you make. That’s where Momentum’s VEN comes in.

If you’re a business with multiple locations, and one of those locations is generating more solar than it can use, a VEN can help you reduce your energy costs by offsetting your energy consumption from the grid across your business.

Virtual Power Plant (VPP)

What’s so good about Momentum’s Virtual Energy Network (VEN)? 

Faster ROI
Faster ROI

Put your excess solar energy to good use by sharing the benefit of it via the VEN to other sites in your operation (instead of receiving a small feed-in tariff).

Easy billing
Easy billing

Any exported solar you’re able to ‘net off’ with consumption at your other sites will appear on your bill as a credit – kWh for kWh.

Less maintenance
Less maintenance

You don’t need solar installations at every location, just one will do.

Price certainty
Price certainty

Make the most of solar and enjoy the security of fixed rates for any electricity you draw from the grid by pairing it with a Momentum Fixed Price Variable Volume (FPVV) retail contract, for large customers only.

Likeable
Likeable

Keep green-conscious customers (and staff) happy. 

100% Australian owned
100% Australian owned

Our parent company Hydro Tasmania is Australia’s largest generator of renewable energy – and our VEN supports Australia’s transition to renewables.

Is a VEN right for my business?

Solar sharing is best suited to organisations with multiple sites who want to make the most of a solar system without installing one at every site. It’s particularly good for organisations that: ​

  • Want to reduce power costs with solar
  • Produce more solar than they can use at a single location
  • Have locations that can’t host a solar system
  • Want to generate and use their own solar (rather than purchase or trade LGCs)

If your multi-site business is based in VIC, QLD, SA, NSW or ACT and you have a solar solution generating more energy than you can use at a single site, then a VEN could be a smart choice. The fastest way to find out if it’s a good fit is to speak with our team. 

Solar sharing infographic

Take a look at the platform

Using the Enosi Powertracer Platform, VEN customers can match solar between sites and keep an eye on imports and exports.

  • TickMonitor solar production and usage data for each of your sites
  • TickIdentify opportunities to net off your solar generation across your business.
  • TickAutomate trades to match excess solar with the sites that need it
VEN platform

Here’s how it works (the real nitty gritty)

Curious how much you might save on electricity costs by sharing your solar across sites?

Although solar generation fluctuates all the time, our energy solutions team can give you an estimate of how much you could have saved in the last year or so if you’d already joined our VEN. It’s the fastest way to find out whether Solar sharing could be the right solution for you.

Contact us

Client case study: Port of Brisbane

‘The Virtual Energy Network is an innovative but easy to use tool to more effectively utilise our onsite solar assets. Now the VEN is established, we’re sharing the benefits of that solar power across our own facilities. It’s supporting our Net Zero ambitions and demonstrating our sustainability commitment to our customers and stakeholders.’

Brendan Connell, Port of Brisbane Executive General Manager Sustainability & Corporate Relations

Read more about our work with the Port of Brisbane >

Port of Brisbane Case Study

Got questions about VENs?

There’s a good chance you’ll find the answer here in our Virtual Energy Network FAQs.

Can I have a VEN and price certainty too? openclose

Yes, our commercial & industrial customers (large businesses) can have it both ways. Make the most of your solar system backed up by fixed-rates for the electricity you draw from the grid.

How are Powertracer fees calculated? openclose

Powertracer fees are charged per site, by Enosi, under the terms and conditions of access to the Powertracer Platform. These fees vary based on the size of your energy load.

Can I match my grid energy use with GreenPower? openclose

Yes, you can choose up to 100% GreenPower (LGCs) for the power you use from the grid to help you hit your sustainability targets.

Do I need to be a Momentum business customer to participate? openclose

Yes, you’ll need to sign a retail contract for your grid power supply with Momentum to access VEN solar sharing.

Do I need smart meters? openclose

Yes, you’ll need smart meters at each of your participating sites. If you don’t have them already, our team can help you get them installed.

If I don’t share the benefit of my solar, can I still receive a FiT? openclose

Yes, you’ll still receive a FiT (feed-in tariff) for any eligible generation where the benefit of that generation isn’t shared across your sites.

How is the bill credit calculated? openclose

Great question! The monthly bill credit you’ll receive for all shared (matched) solar energy, will vary based on a few different factors including the volume (in kWh) of excess solar energy you share and the time of day that your off-taker sites are using their energy.