The Australian Government is consulting with industry and community groups on an AUS$100 million smart grid trial.
“The Rudd Government is providing AUS$100 million to trial a large-scale smart grid and smart meters project to demonstrate best practice, shape government policy and help industry and consumers realise the benefits of smart grids,” said Minister for Environment Peter Garrett yesterday.
The first stage of the National Energy Efficiency Initiative: Smart Grid, Smart City is to consult with stakeholders in energy, business, community and government sectors, he added.
“Stakeholders recognise that smart grids are new territory, and are discussing what it will mean for customers, how it will shape the future of the national energy grid, and how the trial will potentially enable a whole raft of innovations and initiatives,” he said.
The Government is expected to make further announcements about the Smart Grid, Smart City trial over the next few months.
The trial is just one of the Australian Government’s range of initiatives aimed at tackling the country’s energy efficiency and CO2 emissions. It recently announced an AUS$4 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package, which provides householders with up to $1,600 to spend on solar hot water or ceiling insulation. But the Government has also delayed the introduction of its planned carbon reduction scheme until 2011.
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- Smart energy meters to roll out in trial | The Courier-Mail
- AlertMe Inks First Utility Trial With British Gas
- US government pumps $57m into smart grid | BusinessGreen.com
