Synergy Battery Rewards vs Plico VPP: The Complete WA VPP Comparison

As WA’s trusted local solar battery provider, Plico is on a mission to make solar + battery affordable and accessible for all Aussies. 

As WA’s trusted local solar battery provider, Plico is on a mission to make solar + battery affordable and accessible for all Aussies.  

With the National Battery Rebate and WA Battery Rebate now available, it’s even easier to get battery-powered. To access the WA rebate, your battery system will be connected to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). 

Luckily, Plico is leading the charge on VPPs. As WA’s only independent VPP provider approved for the WA rebate, we’re just the people to talk to if you want to switch to solar + battery.  

If your home is connected to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), you have the option to choose Plico’s Virtual Power Plant Rewards or Synergy’s ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP.

We’ll take you through the VPP options available, comparing our VPP offering with Synergy’s program so you can determine which is best for you.  

Quick Comparison Overview 

What is Synergy's ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP?

Synergy’s new ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP allows households to earn rewards when exporting excess stored energy from their battery to the grid during VPP events, when electricity demand is high and supply is low.

These rewards come in the form of electricity bill credits, helping you save on your energy costs.  

There are two types of rewards available under Synergy Battery Rewards: Activation Credits and Energy Offset Credits. Both are paid at 70c/kWh up to the maximum capacity of your battery.  

Activation Credits allow you to earn rewards for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity you export to the grid during what they call an Activation Event.  

Energy Offset Credits cover any energy costs you incur during an Activation Event when your battery is charging. 

To participate in the Synergy ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP, you must be a Synergy residential customer, and your battery has to be connected to the SWIS grid.  

What is Plico's VPP?

Plico is WA’s most experienced VPP operator, setting up WA’s first privately-funded VPP in 2022. We have around 3,000 households already signed up, which is approximately 30 MWh of battery storage.

We know how to effectively manage our VPP, ensuring our members receive maximum benefits with minimal disruption. We also pay you more for your exported energy than any other provider.  

During a VPP event, our members receive 3x of their energy costs (tariff) for the energy exported from their battery to the grid.

That’s a minimum payment of 97 cents per kWh. We’ve kept rewards simple, so you know what to expect.  

Plico works with you to make your sign-up easy and smooth. If you are switching from another provider, we help with the transition process to ensure you don’t lose battery function.  

Which provider gives you more bang for your buck? 

So, which provider gives you more bang for your buck for your energy?

While different events and scenarios might affect the rate you are paid per unit, Plico guarantees a minimum payment of 97c/kWh for your energy. Synergy’s equivalent financial reward is 70c/kWh.  

Synergy will pay you for the energy you use while your battery is charging up to the limit of your battery capacity.

In Plico’s experience, energy use at this time can be minimal because VPP events usually occur on hot summer days when most Plico members fill their batteries early in the day and then rely on solar until evening.   

How much control do you keep?

When it comes to the frequency of VPP or Activation Events, Synergy pledges to manage your battery for a maximum of 30 activation events per year, with each event capped at a maximum of six hours.

Each battery will only be utilised once in a single 24-hour period. At all other times, your battery remains available for your use. 

With Plico, your battery can discharge for up to four hours in a single VPP event and will only be discharged once over a 24-hour period.

While Plico doesn’t have a cap on the maximum number of VPP events, as this is determined by the needs of the grid, it’s very likely to match the number of events the Synergy VPP is engaged in.

Plus, the more VPP events that occur, the more profit you can make on the energy you contribute. Outside of VPP events, you have full control over your battery.  

To increase the amount of VPP rewards you receive, ensure your inverter is always online.

You can also take it one step further and reduce your household energy use, giving you additional control, maximising the amount of energy that is exported to the grid. 

Under both VPPs, your system will prioritise your household energy use before exporting excess energy to the grid.  

With Plico, you can also sign up for VPP event notifications so you can adjust your energy use and behaviour (if you wish) to suit.

Otherwise, the VPP event will seamlessly engage your battery system in the background, and it’s likely you won’t even know that it’s happening!    

VPP Background 

Synergy has taken part in several VPP initiatives in WA, including Project Symphony, which ran from 2021 to 2024, coordinating approximately 600 household energy assets (including Plico systems) in the Southern River area, and a VPP pilot project in West Aussie schools supported by the State Government’s Schools Clean Energy Technology Fund.

It built on these experiences to create its ‘Solar Rewards’ and now ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP.  

Plico launched Australia’s first privately-owned VPP in 2022, and we’ve been maintaining and operating it since that time.

Our VPP has been growing steadily since, and we’re frequently engaged by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to provide additional capacity to the grid during peak demand, saving thousands of homes from blackouts.  

We built our VPP from the ground up - all made possible by the support of our future-focused community. 

Contract terms and flexibility 

Plico and Synergy both offer flexibility and similar contract terms for their VPPs.  

Synergy’s VPP contract length is two years. Plico’s VPP contract extends for the duration of your membership when you purchase a Plico solar and battery system, and this includes a significant discount on your battery.

If you already have a solar and battery or battery-only system, the Plico VPP Only contract term is three years.  

If you move house, you can terminate a Plico VPP Only or Synergy contract early. 

 If you have a Plico system with a longer VPP term, you may be able to transfer your contract or choose to buy out your system.  

Which VPP should you choose? 

If you’re weighing up your VPP options in WA, both Synergy’s ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP and Plico’s VPP Rewards will help you unlock the WA Battery Rebate and future VPP rewards to maximise your battery investment.

Joining a VPP supports the clean energy transition and helps to keep the grid stable – which benefits everyone.

So whichever VPP you choose, you can rest assured you’re doing something positive for your hip pocket, the planet and the wider community.  

Synergy’s program, launched in July 2025, offers 70c per kWh during activation events and covers some charging costs, with up to 30 activations a year.

Plico’s independently run VPP has been operational since 2022, with an average of 6 events per year and a minimum reward of 97c per kWh for energy discharged from your battery to the grid.

Plico’s VPP can accommodate a range of batteries and is not limited to batteries installed as part of the WA Residential Battery Scheme.

While both programs help reduce your power bills and support the grid, your choice may come down to how much control, certainty, and long-term value you’re after. 

You can also see a comparison of VPPs across Australia on the SolarQuotes website.  

How to join a VPP? 

Joining a VPP can be a straightforward process, once your VPP provider has some key information.

This includes your National Meter Identifier (NMI), the make and model of your battery, and your home address.

Once you have registered your interest, you may be sent a VPP agreement to sign that details any relevant terms and conditions. Once you’ve signed up, all you need to do is keep your inverter online, and your VPP provider will do the rest! 

Joining Plico’s VPP 

Plico’s VPP is designed to benefit anyone who wants to join. You can sign up if you already have a solar battery, are having one installed by another solar provider to access the WA Battery Rebate or are purchasing a system through Plico.  

Our sign-up process is simple, with no interruption to your battery service, and ongoing support is provided throughout the process. Here are the three scenarios where you can join the Plico VPP: 

1) You have a Plico system - congratulations, you’re automatically part of the VPP. If you’re accessing the WA Battery Rebate through Plico, we’ll add you to our VPP. 

2) You are purchasing a battery through another provider and want to access the WA Battery Rebate - your provider can select Plico as your VPP provider when they apply for your rebate. 

Rewards are automatically applied as credits on your Synergy bill.  

We look forward to welcoming you to WA’s largest and longest-running Virtual Power Plant community!   

Joining Synergy ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP 

Synergy’s ‘Battery Rewards’ VPP was launched with the WA Residential Battery Scheme to allow for the increased uptake of solar batteries to support the grid network.

The VPP is available to eligible WA households connected to the SWIS who are Synergy residential customers.

Compatible battery systems must be installed through the WA Residential Battery Scheme.  

Here’s how you can join: 

The program requires a two-year commitment, and all rewards are automatically applied as credits to your Synergy electricity bill. 

Unlock your battery rebate and VPP rewards with Plico 

If you have any questions about VPPs or the available battery rebates, we'd love to help!

Reach out to the friendly switched-on people at Plico by calling 1300 175 426 or join today to be part of WA’s largest and longest-running Virtual Power Plant!