The Australian government has announced AU$8 million funding to a blockchain project in the City of Fremantle.

Project partners include Curtin University, Murdoch University, Curtin Institute of Computation, LandCorp, CSIRO/Data61, CISCO, and Power Ledger. According to the announcement by Power Ledger, the government will provide AU$2.57 million in funding for the project and AU$5.68 million will be funded through project partners.

The federal funding comes as part of the government’s inaugural Smart Cities and Suburbs Program. The project will also be supported by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Western Power, and the CRC for Low Carbon Living.

The project is aimed at exploring how cities can use blockchain technology and data analytics to integrate distributed energy and water systems. The trial will involve using blockchain technology to install and connect highly resilient, low-carbon and low-cost systems. The key objective is to show how blockchain technology and data analytics can facilitate the interconnected infrastructure of future smart cities.

“We are delighted to host this project in the City of Fremantle. This collaboration between existing infrastructure, renewable energy and innovative technology fits with our One Planet zero carbon energy target and will help us to secure the ongoing sustainability of essential services for communities that live here,” Brad Pettitt, Mayor of the City of Fremantle, said.

The project will span more than two years and is expected to start within the next two months.