Evaluating Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Offers Against Consumer-Centred Criteria

Project description

This project investigates how current Virtual Power Plant (VPP)offers available to Australian homeowners compare when evaluated through a consumer‑centred lens. It seeks to answer: How do different VPP offers vary in financial value, contract conditions, operational flexibility, and risks? How well do these offers align with common household goals such as bill savings, resilience/backup, carbon reduction, or autonomy preferences? How can this information be presented in a way that supports informed decision-making for consumers and for training materials?

Project scope

• This project seeks to:
  • Identify and analyse major VPP offers currently available to homeowners in Australia.
  • Develop a consumer-centred evaluation framework grounded in real decision factors (cost, flexibility, risk, value).
  • Assess offers against this framework and identify red flags, best‑practice features, and gaps in consumer protections or transparency.
  • Produce insights that can directly support the development of microcredential learning materials.

Deliverables

• A dataset or structured comparison table of analysed VPP offers.
• A clear evaluation rubric or scorecard suitable for consumer-facing or training use.
• A short report summarising findings, insights, and recommendations.
• Visual artefacts (e.g., diagrams, tables) to support learning design for the VPP microcredentials.
• Evidence-based material for ANU, Amber, and TAFE Queensland to use in prototype microcredential modules. 

Deliverables can be adjusted to the volume of study for different courses.

Information for applicants

• Desktop research (remote or on campus). Optional interviews/focus groups depending on project level. No lab work required.
• Workload is negotiable to match your course requirements.
• Suitable for School of Engineering research-based courses, such as: ENGN2706, ENGN2707, ENGN3706, ENGN3712, ENGN4350, ENGN4706, ENGN4712, ENGN4718, ENGN8601, and ENGN8602.
• Suitable for both domestic and international students. 

Essential skills and background

• Completion of at least 2nd‑year engineering or related courses.
• Ability to conduct desktop research, synthesise information, and evaluate documents such as energy plans or product information sheets.
• Basic quantitative reasoning skills (e.g., interpreting tariffs, understanding simple value calculations).
• Clear written communication skills for producing summaries, tables, and brief analyses. Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.

Desirable requirements

• Prior study in energy systems, sustainability, or economics.
• Familiarity with household energy concepts (solar PV, batteries, tariffs).
• Experience with spreadsheets (Excel/Google Sheets) or basic data visualisation.
• Interest in consumer decision‑making or energy literacy.
• Awareness of the Australian energy retail market or DER policy environment.

Student takeaways

• Applied understanding of VPP business models and battery-integrated energy systems.
• Experience in consumer analysis and multi‑criteria evaluation methods.
• Insights into the energy retail, aggregator and distributed energy market landscape.
• Experience generating material for use in real micro-credentials and workforce training products.

How to apply

If you are interested, please email a brief Expression of interest, along with a copy of your CV (resume) and academic transcript to the project supervisor.