Better
Energy
Technology
About
"This is transformational...not only will it supply the town with energy, but it will make money."
Michael McCormick. Federal Government Member of Parliament
Better Energy Technology was formed in 2017 to build power security for regional towns.
Our core mission is to provide affordable, reliable and renewable energy.
Renewable energy power plants in regional Australia can empower country towns and prepare them for a smarter future. We are committed to delivering long-term community benefits with positive social and environmental impact.
BET develops renewable hybrid power plants for regional towns, harnessing a portfolio of energy sources. We utilise ground-breaking technology to stabilise the grid with batteries and provide greater power security.
BET works with the distributors of electricity to maximise the output potential of the exisiting electricity infrastructure.
Project
Lockhart
A key benefit is that it will be designed to provide power security for the town if grid supplied power were to fail.
The hybrid plant will be capable of turning a cost of supplying power to a town into a postive income stream.
At present in NSW, no town recieves any long term financial benefit.
It is the ambition of BET to change that through a demonstration at Lockhart, NSW.
BET's system design could allow towns throughout regional Australia to create renewable energy as well as derive new income streams. In turn, it could help boost regional economies through new industry attracted to the town and provide a sense of autonomy.
The Lockhart Hybrid Renewable Energy Project is has been designed to showcase how a regional town can benefit from lower power prices and share in the ownership of the electrical generation assets which export the bulk of the power back into the grid.
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Lockhart is a town of 1,000 people, south of Wagga in NSW. The renewable hybrid energy plant will comprise of 10MW of solar AC coupled to a 10MW/20MWh battery with a single connection point, making it unique in the NEM. It will produce 20,000 MWh of electricity a year, displacing about 20,000 tons of CO2. It revenue focus is on grid support, but it is capable of powering the town of Lockhart indefinitely if required.
Lockhart
Meet The Team
Gordon Hinds is the founder of Better Energy Technology (BET) which was established in 2017 to deliver reliable renewable energy to regional communities.
Gordon is also an adjunct professor of Urban Sustainability at Boston University Sydney campus, a post he has held since 2012. Prior to establishing BET has partnered with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) based in Boston to co-develop a new battery technology with his business partner, Professor Don Sadoway.
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Community
The Project was put on display as part of the Development Application Approval
Process. After consulting with interested members of the public, the Council recommended the project for approval. The South Western Regional Planning Committee met in March 2020 and approved the Development Application.
BET gained a social license with the support of Lockhart Council through two town meetings held in October 2017. Here the proposal was put to the community and they voted unanimously to support the project.
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Central to the successful proposal is a deep and committed engagement process with local residents, authorities and governments. Key to these stakeholder is sustainability, commerce and autonomy. The narrative that allows a town to manage and control its own power supply with the potential of selling back to the grid is potent.
News
"Lockhart is doing great things in the Renewable Energy Space"
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Latest Tweet from Michael McCormack where he confirms his support the project's funding by the Federal Government.
"Historic NSW town leaps into a clean-energy future”
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PV Magazine recently published an article about how Lockhart is becoming the "poster child for hybrid renewable generation plus storage"
"Hay looking to Lockhart"
Author Mike Foley from The Land, shares how Hay Shire Council is looking to replicate the successful project to be 100% powered by renewable energy happening in Lockhart.
"Renewable energy for Lockhart could form the Australian model"
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Daniel Pedersen from The Land discusses Lockhart's bid to become Australia's first town powered 100 per cent by renewable energy. Photograph by Rachael Webb.
"Funding boost the 'first domino' to kick-start renewable energy project at Lockhart"
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Dr Joe McGirr MP, State Member for Wagga Wagga shows his support and shares a 9 News clip regarding the Lockhart project.
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