The Co-op operates large cold storage and processing facilities that handle Western Rock Lobster caught along the WA coastline. Keeping premium seafood fresh requires significant energy, with advanced aquatic systems maintaining tonnes of live lobster before they are processed and shipped.
By enrolling in energy market programs via Enel X Australia’s Demand Response platform, the Co-op temporarily shifts to backup power at key moments to help balance supply and demand across the power system, without affecting processing operations or product quality.
Glen Davidson, General Manager – Export Operations at Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-op, said the initiative reflects the Co-op’s commitment to supporting both its members and the broader community while continuing to deliver premium Western Rock Lobster to market.
“Our focus is always on processing world-class Western Rock Lobster. At the same time, large facilities like ours that use significant energy have an opportunity to support the energy system as it transitions. Participating in programs like this allows us to contribute to a more reliable electricity system while continuing to maintain the quality and consistency our customers experience,” Davidson said.
The initiative also forms part of the Co-op’s broader approach to sustainability and energy management, building on investments such as onsite solar generation.
Glenn Lambert, Reliability and Maintenance Manager at the Co-op, said the program allows the facility to support the local power system without affecting day-to-day operations.
“Running a facility like this means managing energy carefully to keep everything operating smoothly. Programs like this allow us to use our operational flexibility in a smart way, supporting the local power system while continuing to deliver the quality our members and customers expect,” Lambert said.
Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative supports the energy market through Enel X Australia’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) platform, which enables large energy users to turn operational flexibility into a resource for the electricity system.
Enel X Australia works with commercial and industrial businesses to identify flexible energy loads, such as refrigeration, pumping or processing, and coordinates them as part of a broader portfolio that can respond when the grid needs support.
By aggregating flexibility across multiple sites, Enel X Australia can deliver a meaningful response to the power system, helping balance supply and demand during periods of high demand or system stress.
Facilities like Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-op show how operational flexibility within existing businesses can support grid reliability while continuing to deliver for their customers and communities. As WA’s electricity system evolves, flexible demand from businesses will play an increasingly important role in maintaining a reliable and resilient grid.
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