Under this section you can find general information about the mini grid project.

• About the Mooroolbark mini grid project

For case studies and trial findings, please contact Justin Harding.

Below is some commonly used terminology when we talk about the mini grid project

Mini grid

A mini grid is a local energy system made up of individual customers that have the capability to generate, store and export power. A control system enables these customers to operate as a unified energy community. Most mini grids remain connected in some way to the larger network though a single point of connection to the main grid. In the public arena, the term “mini grid” is not yet used in a consistent manner. A mini grid is sometimes referred to as a microgrid.

Demand / Load

The amount of power required by a customer at any point in time is referred to as the customer “demand”. This is actually the same as the amount of power actually consumed by the customer at any point in time, which is often referred to as customer “load”.

Export limit

The ability to set an upper limit for solar (or battery) power exported to the grid is referred to as “export limit”. This is a setting in the inverter, which can be controlled in this trial.

Solar spill

Solar generated which is not used or stored by the customer, but exported to the grid, is referred to as solar energy being “spilled” to the grid.

Power quality

Electric power quality, or simply power quality, involves voltage, frequency, and waveform. Good power quality can be defined as a steady supply voltage that stays within the prescribed range, steady a.c. frequency close to the rated value, and smooth voltage curve waveform (resembles a sine wave). Good power quality enables electrical equipment to consume the energy being supplied to it. A number of power quality issues including electrical harmonics, poor power factor, voltage instability and imbalance impact on the efficiency of electrical equipment.