Energy Locals has forged a strategic partnership with Barings, a global investment and development manager to redefine sustainable living at Dickson Village Apartments, as owned by Aware Real Estate, the property investment platform for Aware Super.

This groundbreaking collaboration sets a new standard for sustainable living in the ACT. It showcases innovative solutions that not only promote environmental responsibility but also foster community engagement.

Dickson Village Apartments, located at 50 Anthill Street, Dickson, is a brand new stylish, Build to Rent community, set amid the buzz of Dickson, one of Canberra’s favourite retail and dining destinations. Key tenants include Coles’ latest full-line supermarket, Liqourland and ten specialty shops. With exciting new upgrades to the community terrace and amenity space at Dickson Village Apartments, the occupiers are spoilt for convenience and easy living.

The property proudly showcases a robust renewable energy component, a testament to Aware Real Estate, Barings, and Energy Locals’ dedication to environmentally friendly solutions. The integrated embedded network strategy, a collaborative effort between the entities, focuses on reducing emissions and maximising renewable energy use. The cutting-edge solutions incorporated into the project include 39.6kW of solar PV supplied and installed by Energy Locals, now owned by Barings/ARE. Four EV charging stations, also supplied and installed by Energy Locals, contribute to the site’s fully electric operations. The embedded network allows tenants to access offsite renewables, aligning with a Net Zero plan that addresses tenant emissions.

“At Dickson Village Apartments, Aware Real Estate are making a positive shift away from traditional retail energy providers, with the innovation and expertise of using Energy Locals to manage electricity, solar PV and electric vehicle chargers. This development should be considered the new norm” shared Energy Locals Head of Community Energy Networks, Julian Duggan. The project places a strong emphasis on creating a smart living community, providing multiple future opportunities through the common areas, fostering connections among community members. This innovative approach contributes to decentralizing the grid, promoting a sustainable and resilient energy system.

Significant energy cost savings have been achieved through bulk energy purchases, offering meaningful and substantial reductions to consumers. The project aligns with the green initiatives in the ACT, leveraging the region’s heightened awareness and commitment to sustainability.

The collaboration between all stakeholders demonstrates a unique partnership structure. Aware Real Estate owns the infrastructure, differentiating this development from conventional projects. Barings are the investment team helping to facilitate this initiative whilst Energy Locals are responsible for providing and installing the infrastructure, subsequently sold it to Aware Real Estate for ongoing management.

Location: Dickson, ACT: Dickson Village Apartments, 50 Anthill Street

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About Aware Real Estate

Aware Real Estate was launched in 2022 to actively manage Aware Super’s directly-owned Australian living, industrial, office and mixed-use portfolio. With c.$2 billion Assets Under Management (AUM), Aware Real Estate aims to be a market-leading property platform hosting $7 billion in assets within five years.

Barings has been foundational in establishing the Aware Real Estate portfolio, and as an investment and development partner, has a strong track record in delivering quality projects.

For more information about Aware Real Estate, please visit awarerealestate.com.au.

About Barings

Barings is a US$381+ billion* global investment manager sourcing differentiated opportunities and building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate, and specialist equity markets. With investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, aims to serve its clients, communities and employees, and is committed to sustainable practices and responsible investment. Learn more at www.barings.com.

*As of 31 December 2023.