CSIRO has concluded the Maine’s Power project in Castlemaine, Victoria to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from local plants and facilities by 2010.
The Maine’s Power project partnered CSIRO, the local community and government with four businesses to collectively achieve a 30% reduction in 2007 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.
Researchers evaluated the energy use in the region and for individual businesses, then identified a series of alternative energy supply options for each site, including energy efficiency measures and low-emissions energy technologies.
The project set out to explore ways Continental Smallgoods manufacturer Don KRC, Flowserve, Victoria Carpets, and the Mount Alexander Hospital, could reduce the energy they consume, implement alternate small-scale energy technologies and maintain reliable low-emission energy supply.
Due to the individual needs of these businesses, the CSIRO says it had to tailor emissions-cutting solutions to their operations.
It made recommendations on ways to improve energy efficiency, technological upgrades, and new power generation technologies like gas-fired cogeneration units or solar panels.
The CSIO found Don KRC could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions even as it doubles its production capacity.
Don KRC accounts for two-thirds of the project group’s collective energy use. It is undergoing expansion and, following the recommendations of the report, is investigating the potential to install a four-megawatt cogeneration plant to provide power and hot water for its new facilities.
The project, undertaken as part of CSIRO’s Sustainable Communities Initiative and the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship, was supported by funding from Regional Development Victoria, Sustainability Victoria - Smart Zones, the Mount Alexander Shire Council, as well as contributions from the local partners.
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