Microgrids

The rural city councils of Ararat and Horsham, the Shire councils of Buloke, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack combined represent over 72,000 residents, 17,537 businesses and cover over 49,000 km2 in Western Victoria. Residents and businesses in this region face significant energy challenges, ranging from local grid stability and resilience, to capacity constraints and renewable energy penetration. The need for resilient and affordable energy is especially acute in the communities in the region, with a substantial population of residents who are especially vulnerable to the effects of long-duration grid outages.

Above-ground distribution lines are currently vulnerable to local severe weather events, such as bushfires, flooding, and storms. In addition, power poles in paddocks reduce agricultural productivity and present a safety risk. Funding is being sourced to identify sustainable microgrid options throughout the area to reduce energy costs, improve reliability and increase the resilience of their energy supply. The study will benefit the community by informing investors about the feasibility of microgrids. If successful the project will evaluate local distribution system configuration and identify potential zones for improvement to energy resilience. The proposed Project is intended to study the feasibility of a microgrid capable of withstanding such events. The study will benefit the community by informing investors on the feasibility of microgrid technology options and how these connect to the community’s present and planned energy needs.