The Shire of Wongan-Ballidu, Western Australia, has partnered with Energy Trading software company Power Ledger in the first regional trial of its blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer (P2P) technology outside a metropolitan area.
In 2018, the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu identified the need for a more sustainable power model for local farms, industry and business stakeholders as well as reducing the significant operational costs in powering public buildings and amenities.
In partnership with Innovations Central Midlands WA Inc, BSC Solar, Sonnen and CleanTech Energy, this is the first regional application of the technology through the Power Ledger system.
Through this partnership, the initial energy trading platform has been launched across nine commercial buildings within the Shire of Wongan-Ballidu.
Joining the trial, the neighbouring Shire of Moora is currently monitoring one commercial site as part of the same feasibility study.
The current feed-in-tariff model provides no financial compensation to commercial sites that are feeding excess solar power back into the energy grid.
By using Power Ledger’s P2P platform, these sites will be able to monetise their excess energy.
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Alan Hart, said, “When Power Ledger approached the Shire, we immediately saw the advantage of the partnership.
“Having the existing solar infrastructure on most of our buildings, we were well positioned to enter into a trial project.
“Although the trial is still in its initial phase, we are already seeing positive results for our stakeholders”.
Power Ledger co-founder and Managing Director, David Martin, elaborated on the significance of sustainable power generation saying, “We now have the ability to generate power from our rooftops, from renewable sources – and the existing energy system needs to transition or face an increasing crisis of relevance.
“If successful, which we believe it will be, this could revolutionise the way rural energy systems operate.”
