MyTown Microgrid — helping edge-of-grid towns in Australia
M
ore and more communities are looking to make energy work better for them, spurred by a desire to use their local resources more sustainably
for the greater benefit of those who live there. While there is already substantial mo-
mentum building with local energy projects, determining a viable path is challenging. What resources can be developed? Which technologies and partners should they choose? What business models will be financially viable? How can the benefits be equally shared among the community? MyTown Microgrid aims to answer these questions for the Victorian town of Heyfield, ©stock.adobe.com/au/petovarga
while also seeking to develop a replicable model that can also bring benefits to the surrounding region, as well as other edgeof-grid towns around Australia. Over the next three years, MyTown will test the viability of microgrids as a local energy solution for Heyfield. A ‘microgrid’ can be defined as a group of homes or businesses that generate, use and share electricity. With the ability to be controlled as a single entity, microgrids are
The Heyfield community
make it faster, easier and cheaper for other
able to connect and disconnect from the
Heyfield is a town of around 2000 people
fringe-of-grid towns in regional Australia to
main electricity grid as required.
located in Wellington Shire, Victoria. With a
do the same for their communities.
Microgrids have the potential to enhance
long track record in sustainability initiatives and
Dr Scott Dwyer will be speaking further
the integration of renewable energy, draw on
considerable potential for low-cost and local
about MyTown Microgrid Heyfield at the
local resources, drive deep carbon reduc-
energy, Heyfield is an ideal location to pilot a
upcoming Energy Next free-to-attend B2B
tions and overcome local grid constraints.
new approach with a community at the helm.
exhibition, which is showcasing the latest
They can also support the decarbonisation
Using Heyfield as the model community,
clean energy innovation and technologies.
of the wider energy system while also im-
the project will bring together progressive
The event is being held alongside Clean
proving overall system resilience.
industry, community and research partners
Energy Council’s Australian Clean Energy Summit at the International Convention
However, there are many options for
to pilot an innovative microgrid approach.
communities looking to understand whether a
As well as understanding the feasibility
microgrid makes sense for them and determin-
of a microgrid for Heyfield, the project will
For more information about how to register
also develop the knowledge and tools to
for the event, visit www.energynext.com.au.
ing a viable path can be difficult to navigate.
Centre (ICC) in Sydney from 19–20 July.
*Dr Scott Dwyer is a Research Director at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at the University of Technology Sydney, working on issues relating to the transitioning energy system. His research interests revolve around the opportunities and challenges posed by disruption in the energy sector, especially those linked to customers, technologies, policy, markets and business models. Dwyer has over 15 years’ experience of leading transdisciplinary teams as part of complex, energy-related research projects for the public and private sectors. Over this time he has worked closely with a range of international organisations, including many of the world's leading energy utilities and energy product manufacturers, start-ups, industry associations and governments. He leads the institute’s work on customer energy innovation and advises on a wide range of sustainable energy technologies, including solar, storage, microgrids, fuel cell, hydrogen and electric vehicles.
18 Sustainability Matters - Jun/Jul 2022
www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au