“Resilient” renewable microgrid to power bushfire-threatened town for up to five days

Work has started on a solar and battery based microgrid that will help ensure the supply of more reliable, resilient and renewable power to one of the Victorian towns hardest hit by the 2019-2020 Black Summer of bushfires.

The $28.6 million Corryong microgrid is being installed by electricity network company AusNet and coordinated by its retail offshoot, Mondo, in the town of the same name on the New South Wales border, east of Albury Wodonga.

The Victorian and federal governments, both of which have provided funding for the project, said on Thursday that construction has begun on the mircrogrid that, once complete, will be able to power more than 900 local households and businesses for up to five days.

“In the past, the region has experienced disconnection from the electricity grid for over a month due to bushfires, so this new microgrid will make a significant difference in keeping the community safer and better connected,” said federal minister for emergency management, Murray Watt, on Wednesday.

According to AusNet, the Corryong Microgrid will include a centralised 4.99MW battery, a 3MW diesel generator and advanced control and switching technology to power the town during a grid outage.

The microgrid will be able to be “islanded” – or to operate independently of the main electricity grid – during power outages for up to five days, or longer with access to more fuel to power the generator.

AusNet says that local rooftop solar and battery systems will also complement the microgrid by providing extra local generation to reduce demand on the battery and generator.

The rollout of rooftop solar, home batteries and energy efficient electric appliances in the town has been both community and state-led, and also backed by funding from the state government.

At the community level, the installation of subsidised rooftop solar, battery storage and back-up generators for homes, public buildings and critical infrastructure has been coordinated by not-for-profit group Upper Murray Inc. in partnership with Indigo Power and local electrical contractor KDEC.

Ian Cesa, deputy chair of Upper Murray Inc. says the aim of this project has been to improve the reliability of of the town’s electricity supply and protect its residents during emergencies.

“It’s a groundbreaking effort to expand household solar and battery systems in Corryong that will lead us more quickly to the realisation of our larger vision of a microgrid for the whole township of Corryong and across the Upper Murray.”

At the microgrid level, residential rooftop solar and battery systems have been installed through the state government’s Community Microgrids and Sustainable Energy Program, in partnership with RACV Solar.

Theses – which include a solar, battery and diesel generator system on the Corryong Police Station – will form part of the Corryong microgrid by providing extra local renewable generation at times of need.

Funding for the microgrid has come from the Albanese government’s Disaster Ready Fund ($7 million) while $8 million has been invested by the Allan Labor government – the balance of costs coming from AusNet.

The state government’s Community Microgrids and Sustainable Energy Program is also funding microgrids in Mallacoota and Omeo, towns also identified as support communities during extreme weather following the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfire.

“Victorians in communities like Corryong’s are acutely aware of the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather as the climate changes,” said Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio in a statement this week.

“This advanced microgrid will provide crucial support during emergencies.”