Ausgrid, the electricity distributor in New South Wales, is actively exploring the potential of solar-powered microgrids as a means to enhance energy security for communities, particularly during extreme weather events.
The company has initiated the implementation of its first photovoltaic (PV)-powered microgrid, strategically designed to provide off-network power supplies to essential business and community services in the town of Merriwa, New South Wales.
In collaboration with Yurika, an energy services business owned by the Queensland government, Ausgrid is developing a low-voltage connected microgrid. The microgrid will incorporate small-scale power generation, a battery energy storage system, a backup diesel generator, and advanced control technologies.
Australian Grid Operator Embraces Solar-Powered Microgrids (Credits: AHLEC Solar)
Positioned at Ausgrid’s depot in Merriwa, approximately 270 kilometers northwest of Sydney, the microgrid is designed to operate seamlessly during both planned and unplanned power interruptions. It will automatically activate to sustain the power supply to homes and businesses in the designated trial area.
Junayd Hollis, Ausgrid’s Group Executive of Customer, Assets, and Digital, highlighted the significance of the Merriwa microgrid, emphasizing its role as a pioneering initiative within the company’s network.
The project aims to inform Ausgrid on the most effective ways to deliver a more responsive, resilient, and reliable power supply, particularly in the face of extreme weather conditions and extended outages across their network.
Ausgrid, boasting over 1.7 million customers and being the largest electricity distributor on Australia’s east coast, emphasized the need for climate resilience in the Upper Hunter region. According to the company’s climate impact research, the region is anticipated to experience an escalation in various climate risks, including heat, storms, and bushfires, by 2050.
The deployment of a microgrid aligns with Ausgrid’s commitment to providing a more robust electricity supply to its customers. The company is confident in the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the technology, considering it an advanced stage in its development.
Work has already commenced on the Merriwa project, ensuring that all 28 properties within the microgrid’s catchment area have the necessary infrastructure for a successful connection.
The microgrid is anticipated to undergo commissioning in the first half of 2024, marking a significant step forward in Ausgrid’s efforts to leverage innovative solutions for enhancing energy security and resilience in communities across its network.
