By Paul Hemsley

Trigeneration energy networking at the City of Sydney’s Green Square transformation project has received federal government financial support.

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport will provide $3.75 million under the $20 million Liveable Cities program to help fund the trigeneration energy system installation for the Green Square Town Centre.

Following a $100 million investment over 10 years from Origin Energy, the trigeneration project at Green Square will be undertaken with Origin’s subsidiary, Cogent, as well as Landcom.

Under that agreement, Cogent will provide trigeneration services to council and privately owned buildings in four ‘low-carbon-zones’, including Green Square, CBD North, South and Pyrmont/Broadway.

Other investors include Mirvac, Leighton Properties and John Newell Pty Ltd, which have each submitted planning proposals for separate parts of the town.

According to the City of Sydney, 3300 dwellings, shops and offices at the Green Square Town Centres will receive the four megawatt energy system, which will supply low-carbon electricity, heating and cooling.

Mayor Clover Moore said the local energy network could save NSW electricity consumers up to $1.5 billion by 2030 in avoided or delayed spending on electricity grid upgrades and power stations.

“It will help us deliver on our target to cut carbon emissions across the City of Sydney by 70 per cent by 2030," Ms Moore said.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said the council made an application for the grant, followed by an announcement by Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese to help fund the project.

A media statement from the Department of Infrastructure and Transport said the federal government is engaging with states, territories and local councils.

According to the Department of Infrastructure, the Green Square project is an example of the kind of cooperation needed between governments and the private sector.

The statement from the department said this cooperation addresses the challenged facing cities such as climate change, lack of affordable housing, traffic congestion and a growing, ageing population.