Exploring microgrids in the Australian context

Presented by ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics

Insights and learnings from our microgrid project will be revealed at this online forum.

Against the backdrop of the NSW south coast shire of Eurobodalla, a region devastated by the 2019-2020 bushfires, one of our most substantial pieces of research took place. The Southcoast Microgrid Reliability Feasibility (SµRF) project was a three-year exploration into the challenges and benefits of microgrids within an Australian context.

Specifically, SµRF aimed to understand if, and how, microgrids can help achieve a resilient, reliable and equitable energy future, not only for the people of the Eurobodalla but for regional communities across Australia.

What is a microgrid? A microgrid acts like a mini electricity grid, usually connected to the larger grid but capable of operating independently. Crucially, this means it can provide power when cut off from the national system, such as during a bushfire event.

The project took a deep dive into this technology and how it could be integrated into today’s complex and multifaceted energy system. The technical research developed a number of scenarios using real-world data applied to eight locations, selected because they represent a diverse cross-section of the district. The social science research examined governance, social and regulatory issues under the current system. Interviews were conducted with a broad section of community members including householders, Indigenous community members and small business owners as well as professionals who work in and around energy and resilience policy and planning.

What: Project SµRF research findings forum
When: 11 am - 12 noon, Tuesday, 26 November, 2024
Where: Online

Agenda

Overview and technical opportunities by Dr Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Fellow, ANU Centre for Energy Systems
Community perspectives by Dr Wendy Russell, Research Fellow, ANU Centre for Energy Systems
Regulatory/governance developments/direction by Dr Jill Cainey MBE, Director, Erne Energy
Q & A moderated by Dr Bjorn Sturmberg

This project was funded by the Federal Government’s Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Thank you to our research partners: Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance, Essential Energy and Zepben.

Find out more about the project: Southcoast µ-grid Reliability Feasibility (SµRF) project