ERM Power, a subsidiary of Shell Energy Australia, has been awarded $250,000 in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to help Queensland manufacturing businesses better understand what is needed to make the switch to clean energy.
The $600,000 program will work with twenty manufacturing businesses and is expected to identify significant cost savings to reduce their current energy expenses.
The twenty businesses participating in the program are from diverse sub-sectors and regions across Queensland, and use different primary energy sources to power their operations. They include small and medium-sized manufacturers in food and beverage, metals and chemical production, as well as machinery and equipment fabrication.
The project will see ERM Power assess 13 businesses that predominantly use electricity and seven businesses that predominantly use gas for energy across four regions in Queensland; Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and South-East Queensland.
ERM Power said the businesses will undergo energy assessments that will determine the potential to increase renewable energy generation by electrifying traditional gas-based processes and optimising onsite solar.
“The program will develop integrated energy management plans for each participating business specially designed to meet their unique needs by using data and technology to analyse their patterns of energy use,” reads the company’s statement.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the importance of supporting industry to reduce emissions through transitioning to clean energy technologies was a key element of the recently released First Low Emissions Technology Statement.
“This project is a great initiative in helping to reduce barriers for Queensland businesses to access information, training and networking opportunities to support renewable energy uptake in the manufacturing sector,” Mr Miller concluded.
