Energy efficiency gets a boost in the South West
Release Date: 12 September 2008
The Denmark / Walpole area is set to be the first ‘Green Town’ to benefit from an expanded electricity demand management trial involving innovative solutions as an alternative to building more powerlines to meet peak times of electricity use in the network.
With the recent success of an electricity demand management trial and the Beat the Peak advertising campaign last summer, Western Power is again looking to find ways to implement energy solutions in the south west network to reduce peak demand and provide environmental benefits.
Western Power has projects in the area currently underway including an appliance inventory audit and an energy efficiency audit.
Western Power’s General Manager, Mr Mark de Laeter said that the audits were aimed at understanding the energy profile for the area.
“This will help us understand what the high energy use appliances are during peak periods. In Perth, for example, we know that airconditioners are the biggest contributor to peak electricity consumption.
As part of a broader energy awareness campaign for the Green Town project, Western Power has given out Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs to the local community as CFLs use 80 per cent less energy than their counterparts.
The Green Town initiative emerged after consultation with the local community via the South Coast Power Working Group. This was a group set up and is run by Western Power to find energy solutions for the Denmark Walpole area, rather than look solely for the traditional method of reinforcing power supplies by building more powerlines.
There are a number of other initiatives earmarked for the Green Town project which are currently being worked through to further help with peak demand, including
The roll out of smart meters,
A demand management trial, similar to the successful airconditioning trial held in the metropolitan area last summer.
Distributed generation (solar panels, wind farms etc)
Analysis of the local distribution network to understand load profiles and balancing issues.
“We are currently working very closely with the Office of Energy to determine the scope of these projects and how they will be funded, but we are very excited about the possibilities and what this will mean for the local community.
“We have been delighted with the input and the support from the Denmark / Walpole community in relation to this trial, as it is only with their support and buy in that the real benefits will be seen.
“What these projects and equipment will facilitate is behaviour change. At the end of the day, these smart technologies and audits won’t be successful unless the community then uses this information to change the way it uses electricity.
“Ultimately, successfully implementing demand management initiatives could mean that Western Power does not have to build the somewhat unsightly powerlines through the beautifully, heavily vegetated areas of the southwest corner in Denmark and Walpole.”
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