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 the integration of a range of new technologies such as smart grids, smart meters, electric vehicles and ceramic fuel cells into an existing community.
The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP said the project will test the possibilities of smart grid technologies including the potential to help consumers reduce their energy use and ultimately reduce their electricity bills.
“Meeting peak demand is one of the biggest pressures pushing up the cost of electricity, and smarter use of our appliances could help ease that pressure,” Minister Ferguson said.
“Smart technologies can show consumers at a glance how much energy they are using and how much it is costing them by employing new tools to choose prices and periods that may let them cut their electricity bills. That, in turn, will reduce cost-of-living pressures.
“The technology being developed and tested as part of the Smart Grid, Smart City project is cutting-edge and this new centre gives everyone in the local community access to quality, easy to understand information about the project – what it is trying to achieve and what it means for them.
“The consortium partners on this project are making good progress and I congratulate them on this high quality facility and on reaching an important milestone.
“Working together industry, governments and consumers will help make the Smart Grid, Smart City project a success.”
Smart grid technologies have the potential to play a role in the transition to a lower emissions future energy mix by increasing the penetration of renewable power generation. They can also provide benefits to network business by helping them to manage voltage control and pinpoint infrastructure that needs fixing.
The Smart Grid, Smart City Information Centre is located on Honeysuckle Drive and will be open from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday. Further information on the project is available at www.ret.gov.au