City of Sydney

| Skip to Content | Skip to Menu | Careers  | Contact Us  |   About Us  |   Media Releases

Trigeneration

The City of Sydney is leading the way in tackling climate change.

It has set itself a bold target of reducing carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030 - one of the most ambitious targets of any Australian Government.

A significant milestone in reaching this target is the plan to power Sydney's buildings with low carbon energy systems.

These highly efficient and low pollution energy systems are called trigenration and they provide power, heating and cooling to buildings.

The City has signed a heads of agreement with Cogent Energy, owned by Origin, Australia’s largest energy company, over the building and operation of the trigeneration energy network.

It will supply the City and privately owned buildings in four areas: CBD North, CBD South, Pyrmont/Ultimo and Green Square.

Why trigeneration?

There are already trigeneration plants operating in single buildings in the city and North Sydney. However, the city’s network plans take the technology to the next level and greatly increases its energy efficiency.

Cities occupy only 2 per cent of the Earth’s land mass, but they contain more than 50 per cent of its population, use two-thirds of its energy and generate more than 70 per cent of its carbon emissions.

Almost 80 per cent of central Sydney’s greenhouse gas emissions come from using electricity produced by coal-fired power stations which waste large amounts of energy.

In order to cut Sydney’s greenhouse gas emissions and stem rising electricity costs for households and businesses, the City of Sydney will connect a network of buildings to trigeneration - the first ever precinct sale in Australia.

What is Trigeneration?

Trigeneration engines run on natural or renewable gases and produce low-carbon electricity, heating and air-conditioning for clusters of surrounding buildings.

They are more than twice as energy efficient as a coal-fired power station and can reduce carbon emissions of connected buildings by 40 to 60 per cent.

Trigeneration in the City of Sydney

Trigeneration is a key part of the City’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.

It will supply 70 per cent of the City’s electricity needs by 2030 with the remainder provided by renewable energy like solar, wind and gases from waste. To find out more visit the Green Infrastructure website.

Producing power locally avoids the costs of transporting electricity from coal-fired power stations in the country, which make up half of your power bill and are the main cause of rising electricity prices.

The Sydney trigeneration network could avoid the need for up to $1.5 billion in building new power stations and grid upgrades by 2020, a saving on energy bills for all NSW consumers.

 

View City of Sydney Co/trigeneration in a larger map

 

Related articles

International acclaim for the City's Trigeneration initiatives -
read the New Scientist article, Cents and sustainability: Powering future cities.


Read an article on the Global Mail website entitled The Hidden Cost Of Infinite Energy (Part 2) by Ellen Fanning on rising electricity prices, the solutions and action being taken by the City of Sydney.

 

Download the Fact Sheets

 

 

Back to top

Last Updated: Tuesday 3 April, 2012

Please Note:
While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.