Building Grid-Resilience: A Look Inside Healesville’s $2m Microgrid

A 108kWh battery has been installed at Healesville Community Link, as part of a microgrid trial granted nearly $2 million by the federal government.

The battery is part of the Active Energy Precincts Project, a collaboration between Monash University, the Yarra Ranges Council, and Birdwood Energy.

According to Yarra Ranges Council, the project

“aims to explore how a microgrid – a small-scale [solar and battery] electricity system operating independently of the main power grid – can best meet the needs of communities in Healesville and Yarra Junction.”

Note: SQ’s ‘Solar In Your Location‘ tool shows that Healesville is bang on the Australian average for solar uptake with 33% of dwellings, and Yarra Junction is just ahead with 34%.

Yarra Ranges Council’s Energy Resilient Communities Officer, Amy Gregorovich explained that residents are keenly interested in the project:

“During consultation in 2021 and 2022, energy resilience was a key priority for the majority of residents, with 53% of respondents reporting that power outages had major impacts on their daily lives”.

Councillor for the Ryrie Ward, Fiona Mcallister, said:

“Nearly two years has passed since the 2021 June storm that damaged properties and caused mass power outages, and we are continuing to deliver the support that the community needs to keep moving forward in recovery.

“These microgrids will do the kind of things that really help communities keep together during power outages and natural disasters.”

The grant description says the project will conduct feasibility assessments for six communities across the Surf Coast, Yarra Ranges, and Wodonga councils.

“Drawing off Monash University’s and Birdwood’s microgrid, smart energy, storage and commercial expertise the project aims to improve resilience, reduce energy costs and develop investable business cases,”

 

“Each microgrid will aim to virtually connect flexible commercial and residential loads including local renewable generation and energy storage.”

According to Birdwood Energy, each microgrid will connect one business and around 20 households into a microgrid “including local renewable generation and energy storage”.

Monash University Project lead, Priya Galketiya, said:

“A microgrid can realise greater value for users by pooling assets such as their solar generation for efficiencies when compared to individuals buying their own batteries for storing any excess electricity they produce.”

The feasibility report for the Healsville microgrid will be made public at the end of this month.

Another feasibility study is looking at a Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve-centre microgrid, which would take advantage of solar and batteries at the Bowls Club and Yarra Centre.