230 likes | 310 Views
DKA – Virtual Meeting Place. Outline. The Solar City program Key elements of Alice Solar City Early results / learnings to date. Alice Springs – snap shot. Population 24 000 according to census Itinerant population Gas / diesel generators supply local grid:
E N D
Outline • The Solar City program • Key elements of Alice Solar City • Early results / learnings to date
Alice Springs – snap shot • Population 24 000 according to census • Itinerant population • Gas / diesel generators supply local grid: • low per-unit emissions, but high per household energy consumption
Alice Springs – contrasts • Wide range of housing stock • High rate of pool ownership & reliance on mechanical a/c & space heating • Approx 50% of homes use solar water heating • Low rainfall (280mm/year) – no water restrictions • High level of environmental awareness • 75% want to improve home • Most believe up to individuals to lead by example, rather than government
The project Aim: • To empower the local community to make informed choices about how they use energy • To understand the drivers that make residents change their energy behaviour • To become a national & international show case for sustainable use of energy
The approach A combination of: • Innovative & personalised community engagement • Solar, energy efficiency & smart metering technologies • Unique incentives & interventions
Project outline • Three main elements: • Residential program • Commercial services program • Large, “iconic” solar installations • Smart Living Centre - focus of activity • Strong emphasis on tailored advice • Large focus on monitoring & evaluation
Residential program Integrated, one stop-shop approach: • Address the common barriers to taking action • “don’t know what to do, don’t know who to trust, its all too hard…” • Participants receive: • In-home energy survey (audit) carried out by ASC auditor • Personalised Home Energy Survey report • Financial incentives (35 - 50%) for range of measures
Financial incentives Measures are tailored to the household & appropriate to the desert environment, such as: • Insulation • Paint roof white / replace roof with white sheeting • Solar water heating • Solar photovoltaic (49 cents / kWh gross feed in-tariff) • Service of evaporative a/c • Window tinting & double glazing • CFL and LED lighting etc
Other residential offerings Cost Reflective Tariff trial • Assess how residents react to split tariffs • Residential tariff currently 15c kWh flat rate • Smart meters – 27c peak / 15c off peak • Smart Meter & in-house display 10:10 / 20:20 – a reward for saving energy • Save 10% of electricity consumption – receive a further 10% credit on next bill. Save 20% - get 20% credit.
Commercial program • Similar principles to residential program (energy audit & tailored advice & incentives) • 2 funding streams: • Small business • energy audit by us • Funding up to $5k • Larger businesses • energy audit by us or by professional auditor • Funding up to $50k
Iconic Projects • Major “iconic” solar projects around Alice Springs • Part of the strategy of making Alice Springs a national & international showcase for solar energy • Projects include: • 300kW photovoltaic system on Crowne Plaza hotel • 1 MW solar power station • 250kW solar installation at the airport • Solar air-conditioning system at Araluen cultural centre • Large solar pool heating at new aquatic centre
Progress & learnings • 1300 households & 70 business signed up • 200 solar hot water & 85 solar power systems installed • Large range in consumption levels - from 2,000 to 22,000 kWh pa (both for 2 person households) • Solar PV popular – need to emphasise the ‘porsche pulling a caravan’ issue with some people • Tailored advice & voucher system popular • Smart Living Centre is popular • Common themes from home energy surveys • Marketing / communications needs to be constant & varied to get traction
Our vision... to become a national model for community engagement & sustainable use of energy. Brian Elmer General Manager brian.elmer@alicesolarcity.com.au www.alicesolarcity.com.au 08 8950 4350