Australia - Smart Grids - Major Players & Projects

Synopsis

Smart grids support the delivery of electricity to consumers using digital communications technology to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The major players building smart grids in Australia are mostly large energy retailers and producers supported by IT and telecommunications firms. Country Energy and EnergyAustralia are perhaps the most active companies in this area. The period over 2009 and 2010 is likely to see significant development by companies relating to smart grids driven by Government initiatives. The 2009 federal budget earmarked a $100 million investment in a smart grid demonstration project which will be linked to the National Broadband Network initiative in Australia. This report provides an overview of the major players in the Australian smart grid market and related projects.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Smart grids overview
  
• 3. Key smart grid projects
  
  • 3.1 Introduction
    
  • 3.2 Fault Detection Isolation and Restoration (FDIR)
    
  • 3.3 Substation and feeder monitoring
    
  • 3.4 Distributed Generation enablement
    
  • 3.5 Other applications
    
• 4. Country Energy
  
  • 4.1 Overview
    
  • 4.2 Radio over IP Solution
    
  • 4.3 Smart grid initiative from Country Energy
    
    • 4.3.1 Intelligent network business blueprint
      
    • 4.3.2 Intelligent Network education centre
      
    • 4.3.3 Infrastructure developments
      
    • 4.3.4 Expected business outcomes and benefits
      
  • 4.4 EnergyAustralia
    
    • 4.4.1 Smart meters
      
    • 4.4.2 Communications networks
      
    • 4.4.3 Newcastle WiMAX Trial
      
    • 4.4.4 Smart grid systems - Real Time Operational Environment (RTOE)
      
    • 4.4.5 Sydney smart energy grid
      
  • 4.5 AGL
    
    • 4.5.1 Three-city electric car network - Better Place, AGL and Macquarie
      
  • 4.6 Powerlink
    
    • 4.6.1 Telecommunications activities
      
  • 4.7 Western Power
    
  • 4.8 Ergon - Nexium Telecommunications
    
    • 4.8.1 Products
      
    • 4.8.2 Wireless based smart grids
      
    • 4.8.3  HYPERLINK "http://evme.com.au/2009/07/24/energetique-and-ergon-energey-to-trial-electric-vehicles/%20" \o "Permanent Link to Energetique and Ergon Energey to trial electric vehicles" Electric vehicles
      
    • 4.8.4 Solar Cities
      
  • 4.9 SP AusNet
    
    • 4.9.1 Electricity transmission assets
      
    • 4.9.2 Electricity distribution assets
      
    • 4.9.3 Gas distribution assets
      
    • 4.9.4 BPL trial in Mt Beauty
      
    • 4.9.5 Telecoms activities
      
    • 4.9.6 WiMAX based smart grid
      
  • 4.10 TransGrid
    
    • 4.10.1 Telecommunications network
      
  • 4.11 Integral Energy
    
  • 4.12 ETSA
    
  • 4.13 Smart electricity metering in FttH project
    
  • 4.14 IBM’s Intelligent Utility Network Coalition
    
• 5. Related reports
  

• Exhibit 1 – Country Energy: smart grid in action
• Exhibit 2 – Non-regulated business (telecoms) activities