Australia’s Energy Networks Association unveiled a new plan that seeks to guide the development of smart grid networks across the country, allowing for a more reliable distribution of electricity.
The association includes ActewAGL, Aurora Energy, Country Energy, EnergyAustralia, Envestra, Ergon Energy, Rail Corporation New South Wales, SP AusNet and TransGrid.
The two-year national strategy has four priority areas for action to advance the deployment of smart grid infrastructure. The organization’s main focus is to spur customer education and participation since power consumers have a low level of awareness regarding smart grid and their benefits.
To achieve this goal, the organization will facilitate research on the importance of educating the power consumers on the necessity and benefits of smart electricity networks and associated technologies. The group will also participate in national and international forums on interoperability standards.
Next, the association will initiate the creation of customer protection mechanisms to support consumer groups who have less capacity to shift their demands from peak to nonpeak hours. Concessions will be created to protect consumers from difficulties brought by new pricing arrangements.
“In parallel with the deployment of the smart infrastructure, businesses will need to change their processes and adapt to new business models to fully realise the benefits of the smart network,” said Andrew Blyth, chief executive of the association.
The group will also share industry knowledge to electricity distribution companies and the rest of the power industry to facilitate timely and cost-effective decisions on areas such as technology choices, workforce planning and essential standards and procedures.
Finally, the organization will partner with the Australian government to develop commercial and regulatory frameworks for smart networks. They will determine whether any changes must be done to the regulatory or market arrangement of the government’s Smart City, Smart Grid project.
“Given the significance of smart networks to the Australian community, it is vital that there is a national strategy to ensure the transition to smart networks is timely and cost effective, and that consumers are aware and supportive of the new service offerings that will be enabled,” Mr. Blyth remarked.
The group projected that the deployment of smart grid infrastructure will take place gradually over the next two decades as ageing assets need to be replaced and businesses are able to develop a commercial and regular case for investment.
In March, local newspaper The Australian reported that 100 billion Australian dollars ($94.57 billion) must be invested for power generators in the next 10 years to meet the country’s steadily increasing power demands.
Martin Ferguson, the Australian resource and energy minister, told the publication that Australia’s energy consumption could increase by more than 40 percent between 2010 and 2030, requiring price hikes for electricity.
