The National Innovation Games series continues in the Territory with teams turning their focus to optimising energy use.
Last week, local businesses, emerging talent and leaders from industry, government and academia collaborated in diverse innovation teams to uncover practical and scalable solutions for small businesses to optimise their energy use.
NC Electrical and Air Conditioning, High Point Homes and Territory Generation, who represented the property and construction industries, were awarded first place for their winning solution.
The team tackled the following challenge:
“How to get everyone to work in partnership on the network to coordinate, plan better, share, and collaborate for a better outcome.”
The team identified there are power network limitations with skinny isolated grids within the property, construction and trades industries.
To address these limitations, the team came up with a solution to implement a distributed model using solar, energy storage and micro grids to deliver stable and reliable power to business and homeowners.
Darwin Innovation Hub (DIH), Chief Operating Officer, Emma Nesbitt said, “As the manager of the Territory’s Hydrogen Technology Cluster, the DIH is working within industry on starting the path towards decarbonisation.
“The DIH is excited to be hosting the games, which has highlighted a significant interest amongst businesses to transition into the use of renewable energy and will be used to educate, as well as develop sustainable solutions,” Ms Nesbitt added.
Funded by the Australian Government, the games are delivered by Paddl, through the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia.
The Northern Territory series, co-sponsored by the Northern Territory Government, Industry Skills Advisory Council Northern Territory, National Energy Resources Australia and the DIH, includes a total of three games, with the first two taking place virtually, and a third taking place in-person on 23 and 24 June 2021.
For further information, go to the Innovation Games website.