“The Australian Government has identified energy efficiency as a critical component in its approach to tackling dangerous climate change, with the potential to achieve significant, cost-effective and relatively rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors of the economy.

Smart grids represent the cutting edge of energy efficient technologies, applied in energy production, distribution and householder use, a frontier the Australian Government is committed to exploring quickly and strategically as we move to a low-carbon future.

In the May 2009 Budget, the Australian Government announced that subject to a pre-deployment report, it would invest up to $100 million to develop a commercial-scale smart grid demonstration project in partnership with the energy sector. I am delighted to release this report, delivering the first vital step in that commitment.

Smart grids are modernized electricity grids that interact with information technology and communications infrastructure to provide greater transparency on energy use to consumers, and to improve the quality of energy supply. Smart grids more easily integrate renewable and distributed energy sources into the grid, like solar, wind and co-generation plants.

Smart grids are more reliable, with fewer and shorter blackouts. They allow electric vehicles to be charged when demand on the network is low, and their combined battery storage can be used to support the network when demand is high.

Consumers need no longer be passive receivers of power, but instead can take charge of their energy use and make meaningful decisions that will benefit both the environment and their hip pockets. Household appliances can be programmed or directly controlled by the network to run when it is most cost-effective.

Many of these changes will help lower peak electricity demand and reduce the need for electricity companies to build extra power plants simply to cope with daily peaks in consumer demand.

Both here and abroad, governments and power companies are focusing on the potential of smart electricity grids, and Australian businesses are among world leaders in this technology. We aim through smart grids to ensure the health of our growing green energy sector and to create clean energy jobs and reduce emissions.

Smart Grid, Smart City will test the business case for key smart grid applications and technologies, and gather information to inform future smart grid investment by Australia’s electricity leaders.

The initiative will inform Australian governments, businesses and communities about how smart grids work and how power can be delivered in a mode that is more efficient and consumer-friendly. It will bring together representatives from both the public and private sector active in power generation, transmission, distribution, information technology, retail and community groups, and advance discussion about the future of electricity infrastructure in Australia.”

*UPDATE:

“Ausgrid tested various technologies throughout the Smart Grid, Smart City project. These trials were either part of the grid-side trials or the network customer trials. The Grid trials concluded on 30 September 2013. Following this time the focus changed to analyzing and reporting on the results…”

Find out more about all aspects of the Smart Grid, Smart City trial by reading the reports, factsheets and presentations here.

Project Cost Description

In the May 2009 Budget, the Australian Government announced that subject to a pre-deployment report, it would invest up to $100 million to develop a commercial-scale smart grid demonstration project in partnership with the energy sector.