As Australia’s home battery boom accelerates, the Monash Climate Communication Hub invites journalists and media professionals to join a rapid-response briefing about virtual power plants.
The session will explore how virtual power plants could change the relationship between households and the energy system, including how stored energy in homes can be shared back to the grid, what this means for reliability and peak demand, and whether these models can help reduce pressure on expensive infrastructure and gas-fired backup.
This briefing will connect you directly with leading researchers and subject-matter experts, to support accurate, timely and impactful reporting on climate and energy.
Date: Thursday 16 July 2026
Time: 2-3pm (AEST)
Location: Zoom (link will be sent via calendar invitation)
Hear from Professor Elizabeth Lester Director, Monash Climate Communication Hub:
“Virtual power plants are prompting us to rethink the relationship between technology, markets and households in our energy system. They highlight how individual decisions can collectively influence reliability, resilience and the future of the grid.
“What’s stopping households from becoming part of a virtual power plant? Cost, access, trust and clear communication will all shape if and how many households choose to take part.
“People don't just adopt new technologies because they're available. They need to understand how they work, who benefits, what they're giving up and whether they trust the parties involved. Those social factors will be just as important as the technology itself.”
The briefing session will explore:
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What a virtual power plant is and how it works in practice
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How household batteries, rooftop solar and EVs can be coordinated to support the grid
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Whether virtual power plants can reduce peak demand and lower pressure on gas-fired generation
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How virtual power plants could affect the need for new grid infrastructure and system upgrades
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Who benefits financially from household participation, and who may be left out
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What virtual power plants reveal about the future of energy markets, household investment and energy fairness
More information about the Rapid Response Briefings
Reporting on climate and energy stories is increasingly complex and expertise is evolving rapidly. These briefings help cut through that complexity, providing clear, evidence-based insights you can use in real time.
The series will provide:
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Rapid, expert-led explanations of emerging climate and energy developments
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Clear context to support breaking news coverage
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Practical guidance for translating science into accessible reporting
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Opportunities to ask questions and engage directly with researchers.
For more Monash media stories visit our news & events site: monash.edu/news
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]
