The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) has partnered with the Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET), Powercor, Ovida and Loddon and Buloke Shire Councils on the Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid project.
Rural and regional communities tend to be at the end of the grid or have long distribution lines,
leading to quality deterioration of the electricity supply. These communities and their businesses are seeking a balance of reliable, sustainable and low-cost electricity tailored to their needs.
Communities are becoming increasingly aware of alternative energy supplies to either enhance their existing supply or to explore alternative supply options, such as microgrids. Distribution Businesses (DBs) often receive queries on exploring microgrid opportunities for their communities. Several community groups across the Loddon-Mallee area have sought to investigate whether microgrids are a better energy solution for their electricity needs.
Microgrids are becoming increasingly commercially feasible in Australia under certain circumstances, in part driven by technical and cost improvements. However, their analysis is complex and balancing the needs, benefits and costs across the varied stakeholder groups is a challenge. There is also lack of understanding on microgrid reliability, benefits, operation, ownership and the governing market rules.
Understanding local community needs such as reliability, cost and self-sufficiency are key elements in setting up a community microgrid. The Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study project seeks to deeply engage two contrasting communities in the Loddon-Mallee area (Donald and Tarnagulla) to listen and understand their needs and desires in relation to their future electricity supply with respect to their social and cultural values.
Donald (1034 customers, 76% domestic) is fed mid-way along a long rural feeder from the Charlton Zone Substation. The Charlton Zone Substation itself is fed from a single very long radial subtransmission line from Bendigo, which has a high reliability risk. The smaller community of Tarnagulla (147 customers, 80% domestic) is at the end of a long rural line fed by the Maryborough Zone Substation. The Maryborough Zone Substation is fed in a sub-transmission loop from Bendigo and Castlemaine. These contrasting towns have been selected based on their strong community aspirations for new energy solutions and increased reliability.
Real data from the Donald and Tarnagulla community behavioural elements will be incorporated to inform the feasibility study. This will in turn help identify regulatory and market type barriers and constraints. Furthermore, a Microgrid Assessment Tool and metric will be developed to determine the microgrid suitability in other towns. When complete, the assessment tool will be open source and free for any community organisation, or the wider industry, to use to help advance their new energy needs.
The project will be completed in 2023.
Rural and regional communities tend to be at the end of the grid or have long distribution lines,
leading to quality deterioration of the electricity supply. These communities and their businesses are seeking a balance of reliable, sustainable and low-cost electricity tailored to their needs.
Communities are becoming increasingly aware of alternative energy supplies to either enhance their existing supply or to explore alternative supply options, such as microgrids. Distribution Businesses (DBs) often receive queries on exploring microgrid opportunities for their communities. Several community groups across the Loddon-Mallee area have sought to investigate whether microgrids are a better energy solution for their electricity needs.
Microgrids are becoming increasingly commercially feasible in Australia under certain circumstances, in part driven by technical and cost improvements. However, their analysis is complex and balancing the needs, benefits and costs across the varied stakeholder groups is a challenge. There is also lack of understanding on microgrid reliability, benefits, operation, ownership and the governing market rules.
Understanding local community needs such as reliability, cost and self-sufficiency are key elements in setting up a community microgrid. The Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study project seeks to deeply engage two contrasting communities in the Loddon-Mallee area (Donald and Tarnagulla) to listen and understand their needs and desires in relation to their future electricity supply with respect to their social and cultural values.
Donald (1034 customers, 76% domestic) is fed mid-way along a long rural feeder from the Charlton Zone Substation. The Charlton Zone Substation itself is fed from a single very long radial subtransmission line from Bendigo, which has a high reliability risk. The smaller community of Tarnagulla (147 customers, 80% domestic) is at the end of a long rural line fed by the Maryborough Zone Substation. The Maryborough Zone Substation is fed in a sub-transmission loop from Bendigo and Castlemaine. These contrasting towns have been selected based on their strong community aspirations for new energy solutions and increased reliability.
Real data from the Donald and Tarnagulla community behavioural elements will be incorporated to inform the feasibility study. This will in turn help identify regulatory and market type barriers and constraints. Furthermore, a Microgrid Assessment Tool and metric will be developed to determine the microgrid suitability in other towns. When complete, the assessment tool will be open source and free for any community organisation, or the wider industry, to use to help advance their new energy needs.
The project will be completed in 2023.