Overview
These microgrid technologies will provide greater energy resilience to communities during outages caused by severe weather or network events.
What does this project involve?
After the 2019-2020 summer bushfires, AusNet, Mondo and the Victorian Government designed a microgrid solution to support rural communities when the electricity network is impacted.
Delivered in partnership with project partners RACV Solar, over 80 systems have been installed on both residential and community hub sites to support the local energy network when greater energy resilience is needed.
These systems vary from hot water heat pumps, diesel generators, solar PV and batteries. The microgrid systems are installed with Mondo’s Ubi, a smart energy management system that allows the microgrids to be remotely managed and controlled during events.
How does a microgrid give towns greater resilience?
Each microgrid system creates a ‘fleet’ of renewable energy solutions. These ‘fleets’ work independently on the property they are installed and provide solar and battery benefits. During power interruptions caused by severe weather or network events, we can monitor the stored battery levels and control how the community consumes this locally generated energy to keep the lights on.
CMSEP customers will be notified throughout the lifespan of the project when the ‘fleet’ is switched into the several microgrid functions by Mondo.
What is AusNet’s role in the CMSEP project?
We are a project partner and also own and operate the electricity distribution network in Mallacoota, Omeo and Corryong. We're working with Mondo’s microgrid functions – ranging from site level to community battery - and the localised energy generated and stored within project’s infrastructure.
I am a participant in CMSEP, is there a way I can monitor how the ‘fleet’ is performing day-to-day?
Yes, communities can monitor their microgrid status through project partner Mondo’s dashboards:
Does CMSEP work with local infrastructure that is already installed in the communities?
Yes. Both systems in Mallacoota and Corryong are engineered to work in partnership with the Mallacoota Area Grid Storage (MAGS) and the Corryong Microgrid.