Cutting edge solar and battery technology powers new Fremantle housing estate

zero net energy housing estate in wa opts for solar self-sufficiency.

A new solar housing estate in Fremantle will feature rooftop solar and microgrid technology to save future residents thousands in energy bills.

The development features blockchain-ready solar townhouses with built-in electric vehicle chargers and a communal solar battery.

The project, East Village, is a partnership between LandCorp, Power Ledger and the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.

Origin to build VPP
Rooftop solar and communal battery will power microgrid at new housing estate in Fremantle.

Soon, residents at the 36 townhouses will generate their own power using individual 5 kW solar PV systems. The estate also features a microgrid supply network for managing water and power.

Owners can expect to save up to 50 per cent – about $1,200 – on annual energy bills, according to the WA government.

Perth-based blockchain specialists Power Ledger supplied the 670 kWh communal solar battery. The company says it installed the storage system during construction to provide power and reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

Ultimately, however, ownership of the “solar housing estate” will pass to residents. This allows homeowners to utilise Power Ledger’s P2P software to trade solar energy.

Building in solar and storage from scratch

LandCorp’s East Village development is another example of incorporating renewable technology into new buildings right from the start.

In April 2018 a residential development in Victoria offered buyers rooftop solar power coupled with sonnen battery systems.

Also last year, Power Ledger and Melbourne-based Greenwood Solutions delivered P2P solar energy trading to new strata units in Melbourne’s east.

Power Ledger’s P2P trading platform allows residents to sell excess solar power directly to their neighbours using blockchain technology. Customers then get a better price than they would otherwise when selling power to the grid individually.

Solar housing estate to be a sustainable energy laboratory

The WA East Village estate will be tracked and assessed by an onsite living laboratory in partnership with Curtin University. Researchers will monitor the estate’s renewable energy and sustainability measures with a view towards One Planet Living accreditation.

Water-saving measures include storm water harvesting, a strata-owned bore and the use of rainwater for residential toilets. Tanks will supply hot water systems and laundries, reducing mains water consumption by 80 per cent.

WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston said the development at East Village had set the benchmark for future residential developments in the region. It’s possible it won’t be the first solar housing estate.

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