LandCorp and energy trading platform Power Ledger have unveiled a 100 per cent renewable energy residential development at East Village at Knutsford near Fremantle.
LandCorp and energy trading platform Power Ledger have unveiled a 100 per cent renewable energy residential development at East Village at Knutsford near Fremantle.
The development is part of the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs initiative, and will see a 670 kilowatt hour shared battery ultimately owned and shared by the individual owners of the 36 townhouses at the urban village.
In a statement, Power Ledger said the 1.5-hectare East Village will be a showcase for energy-efficient residential development, featuring blockchain-ready homes, a microgrid supply network for water and power and a shared on-site battery.
It said energy costs will be slashed by about 50 per cent, saving residents around $1200 per annum.
Power Ledger managing director David Martin said the property industry is in a unique position to drive energy change from the ground up.
“This project highlights how developers can choose to make smarter, more efficient choices when it comes to homes,” he said.
“Power Ledger’s platform allows residents to sell excess solar power from the panels on their roofs directly to their neighbours at a better price, rather than selling back to the traditional grid.”
The East Villages’ homes will generate their own power using individual 5 kilowatt peak output solar systems and then share renewable energy using the Power Ledger platform across a microgrid.
The development includes a microgrid supply network for water and power, a shared on-site battery provided by Power Ledger, and each home will be fitted with an electric vehicle charger.
“Our energy trading software gives people the option to purchase green energy rather than energy from fossil fuel sources, even if they don’t have solar panels on their own home,” Mr Martin said.
Lands Minister Ben Wyatt said the mix of innovations at East Village provides a great insight into what it is possible for to achieve in modern sustainable residential infill developments
“LandCorp is leading by doing, and this project demonstrates to the wider construction industry just what is possible in creating connected and affordable communities,” he said.
East Village at Knutsford will be tracked and assessed by an on-site living laboratory, in partnership with Curtin University.
Power Ledger’s SaaS energy trading platform is currently being trialled in several places across Western Australia as well as in Thailand, Japan and the United States.