Recent media coverage has put a spotlight on virtual power plants (VPPs) and the growing trust gap between customers and some traditional energy providers. The ABC recently spoke to Sydney homeowner Peter Anderson, who signed up to a VPP program only to find his battery was being drained at peak times - leaving him powerless to stop it when he needed that energy most.
With Amber, our customers stay in control. They have full visibility over when and why their battery is being used, and the power to pause automation whenever they choose.
The article raised some big questions about transparency, control, and who really benefits from VPPs. We think those questions are worth answering.
What is a virtual power plant – and why does it matter?
If you’ve ever wondered what is a VPP or what is a virtual power plant, the concept is simple - and powerful.
A virtual power plant connects distributed energy resources (like home solar, batteries and EVs) through software, coordinating them to behave like a single large power station. This allows households to contribute to the grid, smooth out demand peaks, and earn more from their energy.
At their best, virtual power plants are a game-changer - enabling a smarter, more resilient energy system. Energy analyst Gabrielle Kuiper put it simply:
“Once we have a lot of batteries and also a lot of electric vehicles with the capacity to feed back into people's homes or the grid, we will see this become a really significant part of the electricity system.”
This is the promise of VPP energy - a flexible, decentralised model where regular households play a direct role in powering the grid.
The trust problem with traditional VPPs
But for many Australians, the experience so far has fallen short. As the ABC article highlighted, some VPP programs:
- Drain customers’ batteries when they need them most
- Leave households in the dark about when and why their battery is being used
- Use complex tariff structures that are hard to understand
- Don’t fairly share the financial benefit with customers
As Peter put it: “They’re draining the battery to service other clients, and you’re left in the lurch.”
The Amber difference: Transparent, customer-first VPPs
At Amber, we believe virtual power plant benefits only matter if customers actually receive them. Coordinating home batteries is essential to reaching 100% renewables - but we’ll only get there if people want to participate.
That’s why our VPP solar model is designed to put the customer, not the retailer, first.
- Smart automation that works for you
Amber automatically charges your battery when energy is cheap and discharges it when it’s most valuable, so you get the most from your battery without needing to manage it yourself. - You stay in control
See what’s planned for your battery ahead of time, and pause automation whenever you want. You’re never locked in, and you’re always in the loop. - You keep the full value
With Amber, you earn the real wholesale value of your energy, including prices that can reach up to $19/kWh. There are no fixed credits or retailer cuts - what your battery earns, you keep. - No hidden fees or confusing tariffs
We keep things simple. No demand charges, no surprise fees, and no complex plans - just clear, fair pricing.
Real benefits. For real people.
Amber’s virtual power plant model means more than just peace of mind – it means real-world impact.
- Lower bills: By tapping into real-time prices and optimising battery use, customers are cutting their energy costs - and in some cases, getting paid for their power.
- Full transparency: You see what your battery is doing and why.
- It’s your win, not ours: Amber doesn’t profit from your energy usage - so the savings stay with you.
- Clean energy impact: Every optimised battery helps build a smarter, more renewable grid.
If you’re in South Australia - one of the most advanced markets for solar and battery tech - Amber offers what many consider the best VPP South Australia has to offer: fully transparent, real-time optimisation that puts you in control.
The future of VPPs needs trust
Battery uptake is accelerating (especially with new federal and state rebates rolling out) and VPPs are quickly becoming a bigger part of Australia’s energy future.
But if they’re going to work for everyone, we need to rebuild trust. Customers need to know they’re getting a fair deal, staying in control, and earning what their energy is worth.
At Amber, we’re committed to building a better kind of virtual power plant - one where households can confidently take part in the clean energy transition, knowing the benefits are real and the system works for them.
Ready to plug into a smarter, fairer VPP? Learn more about Amber for Batteries.
