The Grattan Institute has studied the potential of wind power, solar energy (photovoltaic and concentrating solar thermal power), geothermal energy, bioenergy, nuclear and CCS to generate near-zero emissions power. No easy choices: which way to Australia’s energy future? explores the acute intellectual and policy challenge Australia faces in energy policy. via REVE – Regulación Eólica Continue reading →
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GE (NYSE: GE) announced today the availability of its new SGM3000™, a family of IEC smart energy meters designed specifically for utilities facing growing energy demands. GE’s new IEC smart meter will lay the foundation to help Australia and the Middle East overcome 21st century energy challenges, building a more efficient, sustainable and reliable electric Continue reading →
Trojan Battery Company has expanded its product offering with the launch of its new deep-cycle Industrial line of batteries for renewable energy applications. Designed to support large daily loads where the batteries are cycled regularly, Trojan’s deep-cycle Industrial batteries are an ideal solution for a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) systems. via Trojan battery launches Continue reading →
A remote and water-scarce community in western Australia is looking to better manage that precious resource with an advanced metering system. Kalgoorlie, with a population of around 28,000, is rolling out some 13,500 smart meters from Itron, along with network infrastructure and software to manage the new system. The utility overseeing the deployment — the Continue reading →
The Smart Grid, Smart City Information Centre was today launched in Newcastle to engage consumers and business in new technologies that are being trialled in the region to use energy more efficiently. The Smart Grid, Smart City project is a $100 million commitment by the Australian Government to work with industry to demonstrate and test Continue reading →
It’s hard to tell whether the glass is half full or half empty for Australia’s solar industry right now. On the gloomy side, few expect that investment in large-scale solar power will benefit significantly from either our 2020 renewable energy target (RET) or the proposed carbon tax. Worse, domestic solar panel installations are set to Continue reading →
Having the opportunity to travel in parts of Australia this week, I am struck by the familiarity of the issues encountered in various smart grid and smart metering programs currently underway. After several visits with some of the largest distribution businesses and a major retail energy provider, it has become quite apparent that the strategy, Continue reading →
EnerNOC, a provider of electricity demand response applications and services, has acquired Energy Response, reportedly the largest demand response provider in Australia and New Zealand. The price paid by EnerNOC for the privately held firm was not disclosed. via EnerNOC Acquires Energy Response.
Australia will be at the forefront of global solar thermal research with the launch of a new facility in Newcastle today. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson and Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson officially opened the CSIRO Solar Tower this morning. The world-class facility will be an international hub for Continue reading →
Victoria’s new electricity smart meters could get the axe with the states 2.6 million households and business owners being asked for their view.The State Government will today launch a review of the program amid fears of rising electricity bills and safety concerns.Energy Minister Michael OBrien said there has been a significant public concern and a Continue reading →
Brisbane-based electricity storage system company RedFlow has secured a major supply contract for Australia’s first commercial-scale smart grid project, taking its order book to a record level. The Australian Government’s $100 million ‘Smart Grid, Smart City’ initiative is designed to keep Australia at the forefront of energy technology and promote ground-breaking changes to the country’s Continue reading →
Energy Aware Technology Inc., a Canadian developer of in-home power consumption display products, announced today that their PowerTab has been launched in a 2,200 home trial with Synergy Electricity Retail Corporation and Western Power in Western Australia as part of the Australian Government’s $94M Solar Cities program. The PowerTab is an in-home display (IHD) device that Continue reading →
LTE is set to be an integral part of smart grid rollout with a new agreement between Ericsson and EnergyAustralia, an Australian based energy provider. Ericsson will design and integrate a multivendor wireless access network that will enable two-way communications between electrical control devices, back-end systems and households. The network will be rolled out across 150 Continue reading →
THE head of Western Australia’s biggest electricity utility has warned limits might need to be placed on the amount of power roof-top solar panels can feed into the state’s grid to ensure it does not blow its capacity. via WA solar power limits mooted – State News – Agribusiness and General – General – Farm Continue reading →
Sensus is partnering with Australia’s Fieldforce Services to promote smart grid solutions that employ Sensus’ FlexNet advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) communications system and advanced metering systems to the Australian market. Fieldforce, a unit of UXC, is Australia’s leading provider of energy and water efficiency and conservation services for utilities, governments, corporations and households, will be the Continue reading →
Under the agreement, 24 dynamic reactive power (D-VAR) modules that have external smart-switched capacitor banks will be delivered over the coming year, the largest order A.M.S.C. has ever received for a grid interconnection system. The smart grid system will facilitate the grid interconnection needs of the 206-megawatt Collgar Wind Farm that is currently being built Continue reading →
The Brumby government’s troubled $2 billion smart meter rollout has been given a ringing endorsement by an independent economic analysis, which found it to be ”cost effective no matter which mix of costs and benefits are used”. The Oakley Greenwood report, to be released today, found that the benefit of rolling out the smart meters Continue reading →
The Australian Government has committed up to $100 million to develop the Smart Grid, Smart City demonstration project to a consortium of companies led by EnergyAustralia and AGL. Both electricity distributors will feature at the 2nd National Smart Grids Forum in November. The conference aims at steering the electricity industry towards engineering utilities of the Continue reading →
The federal government has yet to conclude funding arrangements of up to $100 million with EnergyAustralia. On June 7, Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Minister Penny Wong said Newcastle, NSW would host the first commercial-scale smart grid in a public-private partnership with an EnergyAustralia-led consortium. EnergyAustralia has been locked in negotiations with the government on Continue reading →
Australia has a habit of sparking innovation within its borders, only to see the talent behind it disappear overseas; then leaving us to play catch-up when the technology goes to market. However, according to a report from Companies And Markets, Australia is now considered to be one of the world leaders in a technology to Continue reading →
