ADVERTISING FEATURE copyright: West Australian Newspapers Marketforce_WEP0213 Smarter connections for your future. Solar is just the beginning. Because electricity Smart-metering intelligence can connect your that allow it to anticipate power disturbances and demand is changing, Western Power is working meter to large power-consuming devices such significantly reduce their impact. It is even smart to build a smarter grid ready for a new era in as air conditioners. This allows you to set your enough to ‘heal’ or repair an issue faster than energy use. We are building a network that devices to run according to a specified mix of humans can react. can accommodate future technologies, such consumption and efficiency, giving you optimal Right now, Western Power is testing smart grid as electric vehicles. usage and potentially saving running costs. technology in order to design a network that will A smart grid is better at utilising low emission, It’s easy to understand a smarter network, or answer WA’s unique electricity needs and deliver environmentally friendly power, such as wind, maximum efficiency for customers. smart grid, if you imagine the difference it will wave and solar. That provides you with a greater bring to your future. Think of it as a network that choice of renewable energy sources and options Soon, you’ll be able to take advantage of the allows a two-way flow of information and to minimise your carbon footprint. many new energy technologies and make a electricity. With in-home smart meters and smarter connection with the future. real-time price displays, you can manage your Because it has in-built communication technology, electricity use more easily and efficiently. a smart grid has powerful monitoring capabilities westernpower.com.au copyright: West Australian Newspapers Contents Saving Learning 12. 6: Powerdown around the home 26: Sustainability studies and offi ce 28: Electric vehicles and Western 7: Josh Byrne gives Living Smart Australia the green thumbs up 30: Young professional profi le: 8: Can mining be sustainable? Jessica Holmes, City of Perth 9: Galaxy light years ahead 32: WA team wins national model 8. 10: Smart Energy: 2020 and 2031 solar challenge 12: State sporting facility benchmark for future facilities Creating 13: Kicking a goal for green 34: Decarbonising cities and 14: Thousands keeping cool with regions free electricity from the sun 16. 35: Turning landfi ll waste into 15: Eco-makeover to demonstrate renewable energy best practice 36: Geothermal cities 38: Desalination and water 15. Generating technology 16: Rottnest: showcasing 39: Curtin professor believes sustainability biomass is the way forward 18: Renewable energy powering the Pilbara Connecting 20: Wind the way to a cleaner 40: What is the ‘smart grid’? future 41: Support for solar in the 21: Swift system backing up Mid-West 25. renewables 42: “It’s home calling – your car is 22: Low emissions funding for innovative projects ready.” 23: Health properties of algae 44: 1Million Women making a developed difference 26. 24: Solar helps city reduce its 45: Improving energy effi ciency in carbon footprint indigenous communities 25: New invention receiving 32. overseas interest SEA information 46: SEA: the peak industry body SEA 47: Energising South East Asia Street Address: 48 Lake Street, Northbridge Conference and Exhibition Western Australia 6000 48: SEA committee Postal Address: GPO Box 2409, Perth Western Australia 6000 49: SEA staff 35.Phone: +61 8 9228 1292 38. 50: Platinum members Published by: Fax: +61 8 9228 0597 51: Corporate members www.seaaus.com.au Editor: 53: Members directory Louise Allan Contact: Writers: This paper was manufactured using fully sustainable re-growth forestry methods. Louise Allan, Kassie Gadeke Ray Wills – [email protected] Design: Sustainable Energy Association of Australia (SEA) is the peak industry body for all enterprises supporting substantive action on sustainable energy in WA. Lisa Murray – [email protected] Daniel Tann Advertising (SEA): SEA members are the business part of the solution to climate change. At a critical time for Cate Murray – [email protected] Lisa Murray 9228 1292 individuals, governments, businesses and the community to develop workable solutions to Loren Anderson – [email protected] reduce emissions and adapt to global warming, you can join the chamber of businesses, Advertising (The West Australian): organisations and individuals advocating sustainable energy solutions. Neil Prentice – [email protected] Elizabeth Poustie 9482 3254 For more information or to become a member call SEA on 9228 1292 or visit Agnus - [email protected] Publication Date: February 23, 2011 www.seaaus.com.au. copyright: West Australian Newspapers 4.Welcome letters energisingwa | SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR THIS CENTURY The Western Australian Government and -How best to meet growing demand for secure and -Committing more than $20 million to support the Sustainable Energy Association of reliable energy. innovative projects including a 5 MW demonstration wave power station, a geothermal demonstration Australia share a common interest in -How to make energy as cost effective as possible. project and an algal based biofuels project. securing our state’s energy future. -How best to ensure the adoption of clean energy -Supporting a Geothermal Centre of Excellence to sources into the energy mix. Access to reliable, competitively priced energy supplies promote exploration and development of geothermal is vital to economic growth and improvements in living I appreciate the strong contribution SEA and its resources. standards across this vast state. members have already made to this initiative and -Providing a $6.5 million expansion of the Solar welcome your continued participation. A strongly growing energy market and new Schools program and $6 million to continue the solar technologies are supporting increased investment in The State Government is also contributing to meeting water heater subsidy scheme. renewable energy generation, as well as expansion of the national target of 20 per cent renewable energy The government recently launched a “Switch the traditional sources. by 2020 and has made major investments in the Future” campaign to encourage better, more effi cient development of renewable energy resources, including: Through the effi cient use of Western Australia’s wide energy use. range of energy resources, we can achieve our own -Investing $23 million for a residential net feed in tariff. economic and social goals for electricity provision to Our shared goals for a more diverse, effi cient and metropolitan and regional communities, and, as an -Launching the 206 megawatt (MW) Collgar wind cleaner energy create enormous potential and I look energy exporter, contribute to global development. farm near Merredin and funding an expansion of the forward to working with the sustainable energy sector Grasmere wind farm at Albany. in meeting our state’s future energy needs. The State Government’s Strategic Energy Initiative: Energy 2031, sets out to address critical questions in -$20 million towards a 10 MW solar photovoltaic Colin Barnett MLA the development of the state’s energy sector over the energy project in the state‘s Mid-West and two solar Premier next 20 years, including: powered stations at Marble Bar and Nullagine. Western Australia I am pleased to welcome all readers to those of us who live and work in the city to learn how to Perth in March 2011. Climate change is a global issue the third edition of the Sustainable Energy maximise the effi ciencies afforded to us in our buildings. and thus we need to keep building and strengthening those international networks to accelerate action and Association’s Energising WA magazine. Locally the City of Perth has been supporting building make a permanent life style change. energy effi ciency through the CitySwitch Green Offi ce Perth is an international energy city and is afforded so program since 2008, which now has 28 signatories and The City of Perth will continue to seek opportunities to many opportunities for being a leader and seen as being covers 184,000 square metres of offi ce space in the grow and facilitate many more initiatives and networks in at the cutting edge of technology and research for many City. Educating our residents, daily workers and citizens the future to support our sustainable energy sector. sources of energy. at large to live a more sustainable life is imperative. We I encourage you to read this publication and put Building the sustainable energy sector is an essential part can all get by with less energy consumption if we think into action as much as you can and make a lifetime of the big picture. Western Australia, while blessed with hard and work at reducing our needs. commitment to sustainability. Whether you are an an incredible amount of natural resources, is also leading At an international level, as part of its participation in the individual, representing business, together we can create in the development of many renewable technologies. World Energy Cities Partnership, the City of Perth is a a sustainable future for Western Australia and indeed the Incorporating sustainable energy into the design of our signatory to the Calgary Climate Accord to demonstrate world. City is an imperative. Almost every year now we fi nd our desire to address climate change and share valuable Lisa M Scaffi di at the peak of summer, Perth seems to ‘run out’ of information and ideas across the world. Generally we look at best practice