A former industrial site in Fremantle, East Village Knutsford, will become an innovation hub for sustainable living with block chain-ready homes, a microgrid supply network for water and power, and a shared on-site battery.
The partnership between LandCorp, Power Ledger and the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs initiative will see a 670 kilowatt battery shared by the individual homeowners.
By using 100 per cent renewable energy from solar panels and battery storage, the 1.5 hectare development will set new benchmarks for affordable and sustainable living in Western Australia.
Future residents at the 36 townhouses will generate their own power using individual 5kW photovoltaic solar systems, share renewable energy across a microgrid and have their own electric vehicle charger.
The battery, provided by Power Ledger, has been installed and commissioned for use during construction works to supply power and reduce the carbon footprint of the project.
Water saving measures will include stormwater harvesting, a strata-owned bore and the use of rainwater for residential toilets, hot water systems and laundries, reducing mains water consumption by up to 80 per cent.
Designs are also being developed to be adaptable and allow for home offices or granny flats to support multi-generational living.
The site will also feature a prototype house by Perth company Mirreco, employing building panels made of compressed hemp and polymers, demonstrating the capabilities of alternative, sustainable building materials within the housing sector.
East Village at Knutsford will be tracked and assessed by an on-site living laboratory, in partnership with Curtin University.
The research program will build a dataset to demonstrate the value of the innovations and work towards One Planet Living accreditation.
Treasurer and Lands Minister for Western Australia, Ben Wyatt, said “I’m looking forward to seeing future residents be part of a community of like-minded neighbours all wanting to make the best contribution possible to sustainable principles.
“LandCorp is leading by doing, and this project demonstrates to the wider construction industry just what is possible in creating connected and affordable communities.
Energy Minister for WA, Bill Johnston, said “The mix of innovations at East Village at Knutsford provides a great insight into the future of greener and cleaner powered homes.
“Every aspect of this innovative project is set to challenge our thinking when it comes to powering the next wave of residential development in our city.
“The 670 kilowatt battery is the first in Australia to power a residential construction site and it will ultimately be the very heart of this community, which is designed for people of all ages.”
