Australia's peer‑to‑peer solar trading study shifts demand up to 18% without zero‑price mandates

A Deakin University‑led randomized controlled trial evaluated a Virtual Energy Network (VEN) that enables peer‑to‑peer solar power trading across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Involving 266 participants at 296 sites, the study found that time‑matched pricing shifted household electricity demand by as much as 18 % into periods when solar generation was available. The approach reduced electricity costs for buyers, increased returns for solar owners and improved perceptions of fairness, all without the need for the zero‑price “Solar Sharer” mandates slated to begin on 1 July.

Steve Hoy, CEO and founder of Enosi, said the findings show that “customers and retailers will be better off when consumption is matched to generation” and that the research provides a “more effective way to connect consumers with rooftop solar” while preserving commercially sustainable retail models.