By Paul Hemsley

Trigeneration energy networking will be installed in central Sydney precincts through an agreement between the City of Sydney and energy provider, Origin.

In a proposed low-carbon energy network, the on-site trigeneration energy systems will be installed in individual buildings located in basements or rooftops.

According to an Origin release, the company’s subsidiary Cogent Energy will invest $100 million over a 10 year period to build trigeneration precincts in four zones across central Sydney.

The release said precincts and customers for the first stage of the project are currently being negotiated, including the council’s own sites.

“It is expected the plants will be constructed from 2013, as customers are identified and secured,” the release said.

Installation will follow signing of a final contract in June 2012 as council and further customers join in.

According to the release, Origin will be responsible for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the plants.

Providing 70 per cent of the area’s electricity requirements, the council’s $440 million interim trigeneration master plan included a total of 360 megawatts by 2030, where initial stages of this plan are covered in the council’s agreement with Origin.

Mayor Clover Moore said the network could save NSW electricity consumers as much as $1.5 billion by 2030 in avoided or delayed spending on 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 (on 2006 levels),” Ms Moore said.

She said it will give consumers a cleaner and cost-competitive alternative to the rising cost of electricity.

The network will reduce pollution by 60 per cent, Ms Moore said.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said the council will connect its own buildings to the trigeneration network and privately-owned buildings can also connect.

Precincts will include the CBD North (Martin Place/George Street), CBD South (Town Hall Precinct), Pyrmont/Broadway, and Green Square.

According to the City of Sydney, individual buildings and companies in Sydney are already using trigeneration plants, including GPT Group, Stockland, Investa Property Group, Westfield, and the Rooty Hill RSL.