Local power could be the intelligent emissions solution
The CSIRO and five Australian universities launched a 3-year research project on smart ways to enable distributed energy generation, which could help CSIRO’s long-term aim to help halve the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. They will delve into the barriers and opportunities to developing localised grids.
A great deal of energy is lost in transmission so local grids make sense in a country with vast distances. Losses in the transmission network typically see less than 15% of the energy in traditional coal delivered to the end user.
“So, instead of burning coal in the Hunter Valley and sending it out, it may be generated in the city, say in a gas generator in a basement, or solar panels on the roof of a house, and these would be channelled back into the grid in the local area,” said Professor White from the CSIRO.
“The potential energy saving is significant. It is probably the quickest way to reduce greenhouse emissions because this technology is already available … this is a way of helping Australia meet its greenhouse gas reduction target.”
For industry, an intelligent grid could prove a resilient, secure network that is not subject to catastrophic failures if particular elements break down. “You can improve security of supply, from a more diverse source and your own energy generation,” said Professor White. “Many of these systems could well prove to reduce electricity costs in the future.”
Interestingly last time I was in New Zealand I was told that many of the small local hydro electric power stations have been decommissioned in takeovers and this was a concern because of both transmission losses and also reducing the risk of power failure with a greater number of sources.
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