Australia’s first-ever large-scale randomised control trial exploring a new technology that enables households and small businesses to buy and sell solar and battery power, has found to have increased access to solar and battery use, lower electricity prices, and encourage greater perceptions of a fairer energy system.

The Virtual Energy Network (VEN) study, led by Deakin Business School and funded by Energy Consumers Australia’s Grants Program, has explored how households and small businesses can be enabled to sell excess solar or battery-stored power directly to others via a digital platform.

Dr Andrea La Nauze, lead researcher and energy economist at Deakin University, said the project shows a potential blueprint for creating a more inclusive and flexible energy system in Australia.

‘Helping more people access the benefits of solar and battery power is vital to supporting Australia’s successful transition to net zero,’ Dr La Nauze said.

The Virtual Energy Network allows people with solar to decide who their surplus power goes to, and how much they charge for it. It also shows how we can help more Australians access clean energy – even if they cannot install panels themselves.

Our research is a significant step toward leveraging this distributed energy resource for the benefit of all Australians, not just those able to install solar themselves.’

About 300 participants from QLD, NSW, Vic and SA joined the study, which has been running since June 2025. One-third of participants did not have rooftop solar or batteries.

The online platform allows energy sellers and buyers to trade based on mutually agreed prices. Buyers stand to benefit from power that is typically cheaper than standard electricity rates, while supporting the broader use of local renewable energy.

The VEN led to increased utilisation of solar and also helped increase perceptions of a ‘fairer’ energy system among participants.

Importing households paid lower effective prices for electricity, while exporting households receive higher prices for their generation.

The VEN is underpinned by Energy Locals, with trading managed via Enosi’s Powertracer software, and is funded through Energy Consumers Australia’s Grants Program in partnership with QuantumNRG, ReThink Sustainability, and WinZero.

‘ECA is delighted to have funded the Virtual Energy Network program, which is a wonderful and exciting example of how all consumers can participate in and benefit from the energy transition,’ Brian Spak, Energy Consumers Australia General Manager, Advocacy and Policy, said.

The final VEN report is available to read here.

More information on Energy Consumers Australia’s Grants Program is available by clicking here.