Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study
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 progressively 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.
The project balanced the technical, cultural and social elements of understanding the feasibility of microgrids. Key project milestones included community engagement, area hosting capacity assessment, concentrated generation and storage impact, network assessment, islanding design and cost analysis, microgrid impact study, stakeholder impact investigation, economic and risk assessment, microgrid assessment tool development and recommendations to regulators. The multi-year project concluded in 2023.
This study was supported by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and C4NET.
Events
Milestones
The study was divided into 12 different projects.
1. Project Commencement
Partners
C4NET
CVGA
Summary
Project start – stakeholder launch event.
Timeline
2. Community Engagement
Partners
Swinburne University
CVGA
Summary
A mix of surveys, interviews, community meetings and information updates for energy consumers impacted to determine energy needs, appeal of various trade-offs, what changes to current supply could be accepted and behavioural change elements . Willingness to participate will be measured against factors such as energy literacy, values and aspirations.
A series of energy literacy videos can be viewed here – https://www.cvga.org.au/energy-literacy.html
Timeline
Status:
Complete ✓
Developing Energy Literacies for Meaningful Community Engagement
Download3. Network Assessment
Partners
Powercor
Summary
Assess the current and forecast status of supply to Donald and Tarnagulla. This will include grid and customer characteristics, demand peak, volume, events impact, known constraints, and power quality analysis.
Timeline
Status:
Complete ✓
Network Assessment Report
Download4. Area Hosting Capacity Assessment
Partners
RMIT University
Summary
For each town, model different hosting scenarios for self-generation including solar, diesel/gas gen-sets, storage and demand response options and network synchronous needs.
Timeline
5. Islanding Design and Cost Analysis
Partners
Federation University
Summary
Defining the optimal location for islanding points, designing elements, the cost of doing so (hardware, installation and ongoing operational), and a network connection assessment.
Timeline
6. Stakeholder Impact Investigation
Partners
Swinburne University
Summary
Includes customer critical needs analysis and the microgrid’s ability to prioritise supply ranking if islanding occurs (eg hospital, life support premises, commercial/residential considerations), impact on business attractiveness, regulatory requirements for de-energising and re-energising.
Timeline
Status:
Complete ✓
01/10/2021
Stakeholder Impact Investigation Final Report Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study
Download7. Microgrid Impact Study
Partners
University of Melbourne
Summary
Model microgrid impact (full-time, partial, and status quo), covering both the islanding component and its impact on the broader network. This milestone considers event-driven microgrid appeal such as high bushfire danger days and how many critical event days are likely to occur, cost of covering them etc.
Timeline
8. Economic and Risk Assessment
Partners
University of Melbourne
Federation University
Summary
Includes analysis of the value potential created, investment required, alternatives (including network storage etc) and community effects (impact on all grid-users) and risks.
Timeline
9. Concentrated Generation Impact (Demonstration)
Partners
CVGA
Summary
Install up to 1 MW commercial rooftop and 500 kW solar systems in priority hosting areas. Customers/third party providers will invest but incentives will be designed to highly encourage participation. Any site will be subject to network permission to connect and customer acceptance.
Status:
Complete ✓
10. Concentrated Storage Impact (Demonstration)
Partners
CVGA
Summary
Install either network side or customer side batteries (with network operational control under certain conditions) co-located with solar above.
Status:
Complete ✓
11. Recommendations to Regulators
Partners
University of Melbourne
Summary
Report impacts of potential regulatory changes the study identifies to drive the economic, power and social outcomes sought.
12. Microgrid Assessment Tool Development
Partners
Deakin University
Summary
Develop a tool that would help any similar regional town understand how well-suited they are for microgrids from the analysis performed in this study.
Status:
Complete ✓
01/10/2022
13. GWM Water - Donald Industrial Site Feasibility Assessment
Partners
Powercor
Summary
Project Completion
Partners
C4NET
Summary
Final revision of microgrid design, economic and risk analysis, customer participation statistics and regulatory findings based on inputting final data from DER (generation and storage) sites. Final report compilation.
Status:
Complete ✓
30/04/2023
Microgrid Feasibility Study – Donald & Tarnagulla. Final Report
DownloadMedia & Resources
Final Report • September 2023
Microgrid Feasibility Study – Donald & Tarnagulla. Final Report
Report • June 2023
Developing Energy Literacies for Meaningful Community Engagement
Report • April 2023
Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Study: Recommendations to Regulators on Microgrids
Report • February 2023
Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study – Progress Report February 2023
Report • August 2022
Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study – Microgrid Impact Study
Report • August 2022
Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study – Microgrid opportunities identification
Report • August 2022
Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study – Stakeholder Impact Investigation
Report • August 2022
Donald and Tarnagulla Microgrid Feasibility Study – Progress Report August 2022
News article • February 2022
Powercor: Donald and Tarnagulla residents invited to have their say on the new energy future
News article • February 2022
The Irrigator: Tarnagulla, Donald microgrid feasibility study to look at town needs
News article • February 2022
The Standard: Tarnagulla, Donald microgrid feasibility study to look at town needs
News article • February 2022
Ararat Advertiser: Tarnagulla, Donald microgrid feasibility study to look at town needs
News article • February 2022
Bendigo Advertiser: Tarnagulla, Donald microgrid feasibility study to look at town needs
News article • February 2022
Renew Economy: Two Victorian towns could go off grid under new network proposal
News article • February 2022
ABC: Microgrids could become new energy solution for towns like Tarnagulla and Donald
Report • January 2022