Business Energy Assessment Energy Cost Saving Options David Thompson Senior Project Officer Regional Development Australia – Northern Inland

$10.3 Billion of Economic Value 20,000 businesses $410M+ expenditure on gas & electricity Our Region

Business Energy Costs

Business Electricity User Type Small <100,000 kWh/yr Large (contestable) >100,000 kWh/yr Standard Meter Time of Use Meter Standard Meter Time of Use Meter Standard Flat-rate Plan Standard Time of Use Plan Standard Flat-rate Plan Negotiated Contract Flat Rate Plan Standard Flat-rate Plan Standard Time of Use Plan Negotiated Contract Flat- Rate Plan Negotiated Contract Time of Use Plan

Flat Rate vs Time of Use Flat-rate Rate Daily rate = c/day kWh rate = c Daily rate = c/day kWh rate peak = c kWh rate off peak = c kWh rate shoulder = c Time of Use Plan Decision – when do you use most electricity?

Peak Demand Charges Charges for large users based on the maximum instantaneous load they put on the grid in any month These can be the largest cost on your electricity bill Charges for large users based on the maximum instantaneous load they put on the grid in any month These can be the largest cost on your electricity bill kVA

Eliminating Peak Demand Charges How? Change business practices Invest in renewables Invest in energy efficiency Invest in power factor correction unit(s) Get below 100,000kWh pa from the grid How? Change business practices Invest in renewables Invest in energy efficiency Invest in power factor correction unit(s) Get below 100,000kWh pa from the grid

Gas Costs Most areas: LPG only 9.8c/MJ 1.6 – 3.5c/MJ Tempered LPG pipeline 4.95c/MJ Simulated natural gas pipeline 2.6c/MJ Natural gas pipeline 1.4c/MJ Unlike electricity, less choice

Large ‘On-Grid’ Renewable Energy Green Power Typically adds around 6c/kWh to per kWh cost Powershop – can pre-purchase energy Diamond Energy – specialise in renewable electricity, business use >$30,000/year in electricity Green Power Typically adds around 6c/kWh to per kWh cost Powershop – can pre-purchase energy Diamond Energy – specialise in renewable electricity, business use >$30,000/year in electricity

Large ‘On-Grid’ Renewable Energy Coal-fired baseline Large scale Renewable certificates = 7c/kWh

Small ‘Behind Meter’ Renewable Energy Solar Paybacks

Small ‘Behind Meter’ Renewable Energy Solar Install Costs

Are the Solar Panels Good or Bad? V mpp x I mpp Internal resistance = V oc x I sc < 0.6 = Bad = Good >0.8 = Rolls Royce

Small ‘Behind Meter’ Renewable Energy Biofuel Costs

Small ‘Behind Meter’ Renewable Energy Wind Install Costs Small-Med Scale Wind Can’t yet compete with solar on install costs and reliability More complexity in terms of getting the site right Small-Med Scale Wind Can’t yet compete with solar on install costs and reliability More complexity in terms of getting the site right

Reducing Energy Costs

Funding Your Renewable/Energy Efficiency Project 1.Finance 2.Government Grants & Support 3.Income Stream 4.Equity or Venture Capital Partners 1.Finance 2.Government Grants & Support 3.Income Stream 4.Equity or Venture Capital Partners

Key Messages 2-15% of operating costs Simple low cost investments can reduce cost of more complex investments More options with electricity than gas Tackle peak demand charges if >100MWh per year Small scale (behind meter) - Solar is proven, Wind is not Solar – large variation in quality. Simple calc. to show quality Large Scale (in front of meter) – many renewables now reaching economic parity with coal, but often requires renewable energy credits Battery Storage – soon economically viable

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