Energy support for Surf Coast, Colac Otway community hubs during storms

THE Surf Coast Shire and the Colac Otway Shire have been earmarked to receive back-up power systems for some of their community hubs so residents will have shelter in case of severe weather bringing the power grid down.

The $7.5 million in funding for the Energy Resilience Solutions program from the Victorian government will install batteries and rooftop solar in 24 towns hit by major storms and lengthy power outages in June and October of 2021.

In response to the 2021 storms, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) funded Energy Resilience Design Studies in affected towns across Victoria.

The studies investigated energy backup systems for essential services and community hubs, including rooftop solar, batteries, diesel generators, and larger town-scale energy solutions.

Options focused on boosting network resilience in high-risk areas to ensure community relief hubs and key infrastructure still had access to power during future extreme weather events.

DELWP worked with electricity distributors AusNet Services, Powercor and United Energy on the studies, consulting with key local stakeholders, including councils and emergency services organisations, to discuss the location and function of potential energy solutions.

The energy systems will provide power to community hubs when damage to the network causes a widespread outage, allowing residents to shower, heat food and charge devices.

The studies were completed last month, with the Surf Coast Shire and Colac Otway Shire listed among the municipalities to have their hubs upgraded.

Community consultation is continuing, seeking feedback on proposed sites and solutions for the energy backup systems.

Preparation works will start with AusNet Services and Beon, and installations will begin in 2023.

 

When installed, the batteries and rooftop solar will effectively form a microgrid, or a small part of the electricity grid that provides energy generation and storage at a local level, and can operate independently of the grid during power outages in some cases.

 

The Energy Resilience Solutions program is partially in response to the Electricity Distribution Network Resilience Review’s final recommendations report, which found that more than 297,000 and more than 526,000 customers lost power across Victoria at the height of the June 2021 and October 2021 storms, respectively.

 

“With climate change set to increase the frequency and intensity storms and bushfires, we’re developing energy resilience solutions to protect Victorian communities during extreme weather events,” Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio said.

 

“We’re delivering renewable energy solutions to communities across the state – securing energy supply, driving down power bills and slashing emissions to combat climate change and mitigate its impact on Victorians.”