Energy and services firm ENGIE has inked a 50-year agreement with the Springfield City Group to create a net zero energy city.
Springfield City Group is the master planner behind the emerging city of Greater Springfield, in Queensland Australia, which has a population of 40,000.
The aim is to ensure the six suburbs that make up the Greater Springfield community generate more energy than they consume by 2038.
Greater Springfield was internationally declared the world’s best master planned community by the International Real Estate Federation in 2010.
Under the agreement, investments will be planned in renewable energy generation and storage infrastructure, district energy schemes, green mobility solutions, digital technology, energy efficiency initiatives and a dedicated research and innovation centre.
ENGIE executive vice president, Didier Holleaux, said the Zero Net Energy Vision will enable the creation of a better, safer and more efficient environment for residents.
“By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities. Through our Better Cities Today approach, ENGIE is at the forefront of developing solutions to meet the economic, environmental and societal challenges that come with that growth," he said.
“Greater Springfield is ENGIE’s first Better Cities Today project in Australia.”
Greater Springfield’s founder and city visionary Maha Sinnathamby said the focus on efficient and sustainable energy production, storage and integration with the community has never been more important for Australia.
“We have one chance and a responsibility to get this right as an ongoing example for others to follow,” he said.
Greater Springfield is forecast to triple its overall resident and working population within the next 20 years and develop within the central business district up to 2.6 million square metres of mixed-use buildings and 22,850 apartments.