05/13 issue 2

ISSN: 0729-6436

Building a power station: electrons or steam? Options in solar thermal technology

Running an electricity network Some hypothetical alternatives

Building a technical Nepal Painstaking progress in the third world

Central Victoria turns on to solar power What a difference a solar city makes

The OffIcIal JOurNal Of The AustrAliAn solAr CounCil

Solar 2013 Conference & Expo

Speakers and events

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SolarProgress | 1

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Contents

844

Australian Solar CouncilForeword by ASC CEO and Solar

Progress Editor 2

Solar project financing tour of Taiwan 6

SOLAR 2013 CONFERENCE & EXPO PROGRAM 18SOLAR 2013 CONFERENCE & EXPO

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS 20

State Branch activities 49

ASC Membership listing 60

Solar advances and researchSolar thermal technology <50 MWCarbon reduction Ventures – into CSP 8

CSIRO’s Solar Forecasting project 30

Special featuresIf I ran an electricity network Alan Pears reviews the 2012 Energy

White Paper 12

Illawarra Flame at Solar Decathlon

‘energy olympics’ 22

Swedes aim high in transport renewables 34

Central Victoria Solar City – changing the

landscape 38

Building a technical NepalPeter Freere’s vision materialises 44

ResourcesAustralia’s Solar Installations 100 kW + 28

Political updateShadow Minister Greg Hunt outlines the

Coalition’s energy policy 4

News and viewsAustralia China partnership 16

Pain versus GainNigel Morris assesses solar industry’s vital

statistics 24

Local and global solar news 42

Tech TalkTech guru Glen Morris on PV maintenance 36

Advertorials: Solar products and services

Yingli, Urban Group Energy, Refusol,

Solar Inception, SMA, SunTrix and Schneider

Electric 42

Solar company profiles 52

A listing of prominent solar entities

38

18

Front cover:Newstead’s conservation-oriented community embraces healthy lifestyles and solar power Image courtesy Central Victoria Solar City

dITOr

dr Bill Parker

Phone: 0403 583 676

editor@solar.org.au

cONTrIBuTOrS: Peter freere, rob fuller,

Greg hunt, Glen Morris, Nigel Morris,

Wayne Smith, Nick underhill

cONTrIBuTING edITOr

Nicola card

NaTIONal SaleS MaNaGer

Brian rault Phone: 03 8534 5014

brian.rault@commstrat.com.au

deSIGN & PrOducTION

annette epifanidis

cOMMSTraT MelBOurNe

level 8, 574 St Kilda rd Melbourne 3004

Phone: 03 8534 5000

auSTralIaN SOlar cOuNcIl

ceO John Grimes

PO Box 148, frenchs forest NSW 1640

www.solar.org.au

aBN 32 006 824 148

commStrat aBN 31 008 434 802

www.commstrat.com.au

Solar Progress was first published in 1980. The

magazine aims to provide readers with an

in–depth review of technologies, policies and

progress towards a society which sources

energy from the sun rather than fossil fuels.

except where specifically stated, the

opinions and material published in this

magazine are not necessarily those of the

publisher or auSeS ltd Trading as australian

Solar council. While every effort is made

to check the authenticity and accuracy of

articles, neither aSc nor the editors are

responsible for any inaccuracy.

Solar Progress is published quarterly.www.solar.org.au

SOlar PrOGreSS is published by commStrat for the australian Solar council (aSc).

Solar Progress subscriptions: contact anna Washington executive assistant, aSc anna@solar.org.au or call 0409 802 707

34

2 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

Bill Parker Editor

John Grimes Chief Executive, Australian Solar Council

I spoke about the extremes of weather in our last edition, as it was

actually happening. Now, the Climate Commission has released its report

(http://climatecommission.gov.au/report/extreme-weather/). The term

extreme weather or climate event refers to “an occurrence of a value of a

weather or climate variable beyond a threshold that lies near the end of

the range of observations for the variable” (IPCC, 2012).

You do not need to be reminded of the severity of weather patterns in

the past few years, whether that is drought or flood or extremes of heat.

The challenge is now one of adaptation. If you have the good fortune

to live in a home designed for your local climate, it may not now be as

effective at maintaining comfort as it was. Since design for the climate

implies the use of climate data it follows that adjustments need to be

made for new designs.

At the other extreme of flooding, the planning of new residential

developments must take into consideration the effect of flooding and

building on low lying coastal areas or river flood plains. None of this is

technically hard, but it requires well–informed local governments to enact

sensible planning policies.

On a domestic note, my last electricity bill was another extreme event.

Enough was enough. I have placed an order for a system, thus joining the

1,000,000 and rising who are financially motivated to install PV.

Of course, as some readers may know, this is not my first experience

with PV but there is a massive difference now in the market compared to

that of 1998. Then, at the time of installation there was about 4 kW total

grid connected PV in WA. Now there is more than 275 MW.

As long as the electricity retailers keep hiking up prices, that number

will grow, even with a grossly unfair buyback tariff of 8cents/kWh. More

on this in our next issue.

Bill Parker

DRAMAtIC ENERGy CHANGESThe way we generate, transmit, use and store energy is changing at a

dramatic pace. Energy efficiency measures, a switch to renewable energy

(solar and wind), increased distributed generation (like solar PV), and the

prospect of battery technology at the household or local level (including

in electric vehicles) are all having a dramatic impact.

AN INDuStRy PROtECtED FROM CHANGEFor almost 100 years the energy companies have not changed their

business models. There was no reason to. Their charter was to deliver

ever more energy to an energy hungry nation. In return they worked as

monopoly or semi-monopoly providers. Better still when they spent money

they put their prices up by a set margin that was guaranteed by government.

A sector with a government guaranteed rate of return on all expenditure,

which was not subject to outside influences and competition for over a

hundred years. What a great business!

tHE RIGHt RESPONSESo the energy industry’s response to competitive change, outside

pressure, and new technology has been predictable. At first ignore. Then

attack. Then undermine and set up barriers.

This is the phase we are currently in, and it has become increasingly

polarised and political. In my view this will only end badly for the incumbents.

Think Kodak, Chrysler and any newspaper you care to name.

The sector needs to change, and change fast. We need to strike a new

deal. A deal where we put a value on energy efficiency and align our

interests. Where solar, and storage are integrated sub-station by sub-station

to strengthen the grid and reduce costs. Where we plan for a transition to

distributed renewable energy.

The solar industry is the only industry worldwide which has continued

growing and creating new jobs in the period since the GFC. As we transition

to a 100% renewable energy system it is time for the incumbents to start

embracing the new reality. Change is coming, ready or not.

John Grimes Printed using fSc® mixed source certified fibre by Graphic Impressions Pty ltd.

4 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

Solar power will have a growing role to play in providing Australia’s

energy needs into the future, both on a small and large scale.

One million roofs across Australia now have a solar system installed.

It is an important milestone and an indication of the Australian

community’s support for solar. It has taken significant time to reach this

level and there have been more than a few hiccups along the way, with a

range of changing federal and state policies that have created significant

uncertainty for the industry.

That is why I am extremely mindful of the importance of providing

much needed stability and sustainability for the industry. The Coalition

has been very upfront and transparent about the policies it is taking to

the next election, including our commitment to the Renewable Energy

Target (RET), reducing Australia’s emissions and specific support for the

solar sector.

It is important to recognise that there is agreement between the two

major political parties on the need to reduce Australia’s greenhouse

emissions by five per cent by 2020. There is bi-partisan support for both

the targets on climate change and the RET.

The point of difference is how you get there. The Coalition has

consistently argued that a Carbon Tax, which primarily drives up the

cost of electricity, is the wrong approach. If it was being judged on its

environmental outcomes alone, then it would be scrapped immediately

because on the Government’s own figures, Australia’s emissions will

increase from 560 to 637 million tonnes by 2020 under the Carbon Tax.

On the key criteria for which it should be judged, the Carbon Tax fails.

The Direct Action PlanIn contrast, the Coalition’s Direct Action Plan will cut emissions and will

do it without a $9 billion a year tax on business and families. Our policy

is to focus on emissions reduction by purchasing abatement at the

lowest cost via a market mechanism. In that way we achieve our five per

cent target but within a capped budget and with local environmental

benefits, such as cleaning up landfill gas, revegetation or via energy

efficiency in buildings.

Also included in Direct Action is our promise to deliver One Million

Solar Roofs. While Australia has now hit the one million mark, we still

believe there is opportunity to further expand the market in a sustainable

way. In response to concerns within the industry about programs that

have been rushed out then scrapped, the One Million Roofs will occur

through a staged roll out. The program will be delivered with a cap of

100,000 per year over the next decade. There will be a focus on low

income earners to provide them with a means of combating rising

electricity prices. The program will cover solar PV, solar hot water and heat

pumps. Staging it over ten years provides the industry with a structure for

planning and is an attempt to bring to an end the highs and lows that

have traditionally plagued the sector.

The Coalition remains committed to the 20 per cent Renewable Energy

Target. It is a position we have re-stated following the recent review. As

already mentioned, the Coalition is very much aware of the importance

of providing certainty for the renewable energy sector and that any

significant change would create sovereign risk.

The RET was introduced by the Howard Government and we have

been consistent in our support for the scheme, which assists in

reducing Australia’s CO2 emissions. It is the RET that has been the

driver of solar investment, along with the significant drop in costs, and

will be into the future.

R&DWe also know there is a role for research and development and so have

given our support to the role of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

While there have been some significant disappointments in regards to

the Government’s flagship projects, we believe with rigorous assessment

ARENA does have a role to play.

However we do not agree with the Government’s allocation of $10

billion to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The Coalition remains

critical of this process for it is putting $10 billion of borrowed taxpayers’

money on the line, without producing one extra watt of renewable

electricity as it will still fall within the RET. As far as we are concerned, it

doesn’t pass the sound financial management and policy test, particularly

in the current context of a major budget shortfall.

The Coalition has a strong track record on the environment and in its

support of the solar sector. What we want to be able to deliver, if elected,

is a policy that provides sustainability and a long-term future for the

industry without constant chopping and changing. Solar has a key role to

play in the energy sector and we encourage the industry to continue to

invest and expand.

The Hon Greg Hunt MP is Shadow Minister for Climate Action and the Environment.

Solar Progress asked Greg Hunt, Shadow Minister for Climate Action and the Environment, about the Coalition’s energy plans.

Coalition’s support for the solar sector

Political update

Greg Hunt (right) expresses support for the Australian solar industry

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6 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

In March the Australian Solar Council

coordinated a Solar PV and Solar Project

Financing tour of Taiwan, the second largest

solar manufacturing centre in the world.

Delegates were introduced to pre-qualified

solar financing contacts, as well as a selection of

the best solar industry players in Taiwan.

WINAICO was the primary sponsor of the

trip, and we worked closely with Austrade and

the Taiwanese Industrial Technology Research

Institute (ITRI) to make sure the delegates got

the most out of the visit.

The unanimous feedback from delegates

has been that the trip was definitely worth

the effort, with the level of contacts and

introductions exceeding their expectations.

Delegates’ feedback to the Council indicates

that all are now in detailed discussions with

prospective partners.

China VisitBuilding on the success of this visit, the

Australian Solar Council will lead a delegation to

China in September. After visiting and meeting

with around 100 companies in China over the

past year, we have picked the best to include on

the tour.

We will send a more detailed program out

shortly, and if you would like to express interest

in joining the tour, or sponsoring the event,

please send me an email at ceo@solar.org.au

Not on our Mailing List?If you are not on our email alert database, but

would like to be, please visit www.solar.org.au

Australian Solar Council CEO John Grimes presents insights into the value of a recent visit by delegates to Taiwan, which boasts a massive solar industry.

Taiwan Solar Financing visit a success

Top: WINAICO Visit - Delegates get ‘up close’ to solar manufacturing Below: One on one Meeting Forum

Top: Delegates at the opening briefing session – John Grimes is centre front row, yellow tieBelow: Factories Tour

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8 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

One of the recommendations in last year’s ASI report (“Realising the Potential of Concentrating Solar Power in Australia”) was that Australia should think small when it comes to solar thermal power. This begs the question of how small is small? Bill Parker spoke to Rob Coltrona, the Managing Director of Carbon Reduction Ventures, about his move into solar thermal technology.

Do you wantelectronsor steamwith that power station?

Solar advances

Australian CSP had its origins in the outback at White Cliffs with a

25 kW multiple dish plant. This plant can regarded as the birthplace of

CSP in Australia, and from it came the Big Dish at ANU in Canberra, a

400m tracking plant. This has so far proved to be a challenge to transfer

the technology to full commercial operation.

Using the same basic starting point - that focusing the sun’s heat

on to a receiver enables the production of steam - another pioneering

venture began at Lake Cargelligo (500 kilometres west of Sydney) with

the origins of the technology commencing in the late 90s with the work

of Bob Lloyd.

This 3 MW plant uses large graphite blocks mounted on a tower with

an internal heat exchanger and a field of heliostats deployed to focus

on the block. In theory, it could be ideal to supply a reliable quality of

electricity to a “fringe of grid” or isolated township or mining camp.

Fast forward to another venture. The intention here is to build a 1.5 MW

plant at Morawa in Western Australia. Carbon Reduction Ventures, the

company intending to build this small plant are using the same technology

as at Lake Cargelligo under an agreement with Solastor Pty Ltd.

But how was CRV conceived? Rob Coltrona has a background in

technology development, a scientist by training, who chose to surround

himself with a team of people with backgrounds in project management,

utility experience and engineering. It grew from his experience in R&D

commercialisation management at Murdoch University. But just how do

you make the transition from R&D at a university to taking on a barely

tried, as yet not commercial, new technology?

Coltrona’s main driver was energy storage. His business interest was

piqued by the model of SunEdison (a successful US company started in

2003 and supplying commercial, government and utility customers via

Cooma Tower

SolarProgress | 9

small PV plants). But since PV had no viable large scale storage option at

the time, the focus for him was on finding a new solar technology with

storage potential.

Pointing at production curves for PV versus thermal storage, he

asks: “Why pay for a spikey output curve when you can have the

reliability of a consistent flat result? The key issue is actually heat, and

that’s a useful commodity; easy to capture, can be used very efficiently

and with low impact.”

In 2009 when CRV was just an idea, the options for technology

development were few in the solar space, and an approach to Lloyd

Energy’s Steve Hollis in 2009 proved fruitful. Hollis was keen to see the

deployment of the graphite block system in WA. The work in New South

Wales was underway to the point of delivering an output but at that

stage had progressed no further.

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Top: CRV PVBottom: CRP SCP

10 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

In 2012 CRV was successful in winning a WA Low Emissions Energy

Development (LEED) $3.775 million grant and the interest of the Shire of

Morawa. Morawa is situated on the fringe of the South West Integrated

System and one of the WA towns with poor electricity delivery. The

company is now busy with the final feasibility study and construction may

commence later this year.

This technology is different from the now familiar CSP projects. In this

case, heat is stored directly in a large graphite block. The block contains a

heat exchanger circuit that delivers the steam. Otherwise, it is not all that

different from other CSP plants in principle.

Beyond the “Flange” – the opportunitiesThe standard steam turbine is commonly used for CSP plants. However,

CRV are proposing to use the Organic Rankine Cycle technology because

it allows power generation at lower capacity with higher efficiency and at

a lower steam temperature, hence the possibility for lower-cost, smaller

scale decentralized operation becomes more feasible. Rankine was a 19th

century Scottish engineer and physicist. He was a founding contributor to

the science of thermodynamics who developed the theory of the steam

engine, but it wasn’t until the 1960s when Harry Tabor (a well known ISES

personality) developed the Organic Rankine Cycle engine.

WA had an ORC plant at Meekatharra with the first outback ORC

installation, not ultimately a success story (wrong place, wrong time and

not enough local experience). Now, with work of Mario Gaia at Turboden in

Italy the ORC technology is mature and suitable. (The Cargelligo plant uses

a simple steam turbine.) Rob Coltrona is quite sanguine about the process

and talks about the numbers in blunt detail.

“We have 100% heat in, 25 to 30% out as electricity; the rest requires

further inputs to be cooled. But how much parasitic demand is there? How

much cooling required?” he asks.

“I can see the challenge being how to use that waste heat beneficially,

and an example would be absorption chilling. The trade off between

“valuable water” and electrons is a choice, so we need to manage the

system to balance the technology to make the most of available water

versus possible electrons”.

There is no doubt that the CRV team will address that question in a

creative way. In fact, such a plant could just as easily be used to rectify poor

quality groundwater, for which there is a need in WA’s agricultural areas,

Morawa included.

The ChallengesLike the construction of anything, be it a hotel, building or swimming pool

or a 1.5 MW graphite block solar thermal plant, many approvals must be

obtained for the construction, and such processes are not normally fast.

The project will also require approval from the WA Development

Assessment Panel as it is over $5 million in value. Just another building for

the building inspectorate to evaluate and make recommendations to the

local councillors for a decision.

However, establishing a functional proof of concept providing a better

quality of electricity supply to an outback town could be the route to win

hearts and minds of miners, indeed anyone wanting a regular, reliable

process that produces electrons … or was that just plain heat?

An argument that has endured for decades – PV or Thermal – is also

played out right here. Short term, PV at megawatt scale wins financially,

and if the end user wants proof, visit the Walkaway solar farm or one of the

larger installations across Australia. Operation and management costs may

be lower for PV (two people at Walkaway), but local employment may see

benefits from CSP. Mirror cleaners in Spain have jobs where they never had

any employment at all before CSP, with heat being an added benefit!

Perhaps the biggest challenge will be optimisation. Beneficial use of

waste heat is one aspect. Configuring the plant to maximise electron

production or steam is another. Despite long–term costs of diesel being

relatively stable, they are rising and there is a forward security issue, thus

diesel displacement is a market, especially in WA.

Staying connected with the research benchIt is hardly surprising that Rob Coltrona values his strong connections

with the University sector. He sees this as an opportunity to generate

more trained higher degree students and to maintain the link between

operational technology and R&D.

“The central question for them is about cycle efficiency, from the heat

collection to the electron,” he says.

We look forward to this technology being firmly embedded in all the

markets that can benefit.

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12 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

Alan Pears takes a different viewpoint on the Energy White Paper 2012.

If I ran an electricity network…

Special feature

We have seen the release of the final Energy White Paper and the report

of the Senate inquiry into electricity pricing. The final white paper was

substantially improved from the draft. But it still rates a ‘fail’.

The core scenario on which future energy policy is based is the

International Energy Agency’s (IEA) ‘New Policies’ scenario, which is

pretty much our past growth trajectory. The IEA’s ‘450 ppm scenario’

to limit global warming to around two degrees is largely ignored. The

brief discussion on page 204, titled ‘Integrating a Changing Climate into

Energy Planning’ focuses on climate adaptation and climate impacts

on energy infrastructure. The overall position is that cutting emissions

is not the responsibility of the energy sector, but is dealt with by other

government agencies and COAG councils!

So the Energy White Paper 2012, Australia’s energy transformation

fails to confront fundamentals such as the IEA view that, if we are to limit

global temperature increase to near two degrees Celsius, and global coal

consumption will decline by 30% by 2035. Less than a third of the fossil

fuel industries’ proved resources could be burned without exceeding

climate limits.

The white paper encourages people to explore different scenarios with

the online eFuture model, developed by CSIRO. Unfortunately, this only

allows consumption growth scenarios to be explored.

Among other things, the paper argues that fossil fuels are not being

subsidised, and that the generous taxation incentives simply reflect the

varying risk profiles of different activities. An interesting interpretation.

As usual, energy efficiency is dealt with last, in 16 of the 227 pages

of text.

Overall, this will be an interesting document for historians to look back

at when they try to explain to future generations how misguided our

society was, and why we failed to manage climate change.

Senate inquiry into electricity pricingThis report is a thoughtful discussion of the shambles that is our

electricity market. It has some useful recommendations and is well worth

a read. But the Hansard records of the inquiry hearings are much more

entertaining.

Hansard shows how, on one hand, the existing energy sector is

unanimous that there have been problems but that they are well on the

way to fixing them, so they should just be left alone. On the other hand,

they blame each other for the problems and express concern about the

lack of information on which to base decisions. For example, the head of

the Energy Department’s energy division admitted that his department

SolarProgress | 13

“So if I ran a network, I would broaden its activities into the competitive areas of the energy markets, both wholesale and retail, as well as the energy services market.”

had done no analysis of demand-reduction activities and their relationship

to electricity prices (Hansard 25/9/12). How can the department advise its

minister for resources on energy policy without doing this?

Those outside the mainstream energy sector were unanimous that

the problems are serious and will require substantial change. For

example, demand management expert Dr Paul Troughton estimated

that $16 billion had been spent unnecessarily on electricity supply

(Hansard p.67 27/9/12).

The depth of the cultural problem in the energy sector is reflected

in a comment by Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) chair,

John Pierce, in the hearings (Hansard 25/9/12). He drew upon a football

analogy, suggesting that the energy sector was just one specialist player,

and that there were other specialist players responsible for environmental,

social and other policy areas.

He suggested that it was ridiculous for other players to try to tell

a specialist player how to play as part of a team. He saw the role of

AEMC as focused on economic efficiency: others should deal with

other issues. He saw AEMC’s role as being “to inform other parts of

government what the effect on this efficiency objective is of things

they are thinking about…”

He, like others in the energy sector, interpreted the energy market

objective in very narrow economic terms and saw no role for energy

policy people to help other agencies to develop joint policy. No wonder

energy policy conflicts with other policies.

While the inquiry and its recommendations are a very useful step,

the big question is whether the energy sector will retake control of the

agenda through management of the detail of ongoing changes. Or will

they review their approach so it meshes with other government policies?

If I ran an electricity network…Electricity network operators are the whipping boys of the industry, with

some justification. But how could networks become part of the solution

instead of part of the problem?

At present, the core business of an electricity network is seen as

ensuring reliable and safe supply of electricity to consumers from large

power stations and measurement of electricity use for billing purposes.

They have no direct links to consumers and their culture is based on

building and maintaining poles and wires. Regulators treat networks

effectively as regional monopolies – although as I have pointed out

before, this is incorrect, as they compete with distributed generation,

energy efficiency, fuel switching and demand management – so they

are able to exert unfair market power. Networks are also paid based on

the size of their assets and the amount of electricity supplied through

their wires.

The main risk networks now face to their businesses is that use of

their capital-intensive networks will decline, while peaks become more

significant. Unless regulators agree to them extracting higher charges

from consumers or separating payment from electricity flows, this will

reduce their profitability.

14 | ISSUE 2 • 2013

So if I ran a network, I would broaden its activities into the competitive

areas of the energy markets, both wholesale and retail, as well as the

energy services market.

I would install regional electricity storage systems, which I could use

to store low cost electricity and sell it at premium prices. This technology

could be located strategically to also store exports from PV and other

distributed energy systems locally, before they complicate the operation

of the main network. This would allow ‘smart’ consumer technologies to

interact better with existing ‘dumb’ grids, reducing the need for high risk

investment in networks.

I would seek a licence to bid demand management into the wholesale

electricity market and set up a subsidiary business to develop this market

capacity. I would minimise additional investment in the existing network

so that depreciation and other allowances in tax rules would allow

reducing returns from them to be managed.

I would set up another subsidiary business to sell in-home and in-

business displays and smart controls, on-site electricity storage, PV and

stand-alone power systems, initially for fringe-of-grid customers, people

in high fire-risk areas and where networks are under stress. This would

include allowing consumers to share use of backup generators and

storage within local areas. This could include leasing these technologies

and providing ongoing fee-based maintenance and monitoring services,

so that those with on-site equipment need not be deeply involved in

running their energy systems. It might also include using under-utilised

grid capacity to provide low cost backup.

For the existing business, I would develop more sophisticated network

pricing schemes so that PV, other distributed generators and energy

efficient consumers gain benefit from avoiding demand or exporting

electricity at times and places of most use to the network.

This would encourage PV owners to consider orienting their panels

to generate more in the afternoon or to install storage to allow them to

complement the grid. This might be done through adding to existing

feed-in tariffs at certain times of day or by offering rebates on energy bills

based on actual avoided peak demand/exports at critical times.

Remote management of specific equipment such as pool pumps and

air conditioners and voluntary limits on peak demand, in exchange for

discounted prices, could also be part of the new business model.

Partnerships with welfare groups, community groups and other

businesses, as well as separate subsidiary businesses, will be necessary

to overcome lack of consumer trust in network operators, cultural

barriers and limited internal marketing and sales skills within the

network business.

Some elements of this model depend on changes to energy market

rules. But government policy makers should be supportive, as the

alternative is higher consumer energy costs and potential business failures

among network operators.

Alan Pears has worked in the energy efficiency field for over 20 years as

an engineer and educator. He is Adjunct Professor at RMIT University and

is co-director of environmental consultancy Sustainable Solutions

Reprinted from RenewEconomy of March 27 2013 with kind permission

of article author Alan Pears

Special feature

High risk areas in the Hills east of Perth. Poles and wires buried in the bush.