The Microgrids Project team have been hard at work rolling out the initial stages of the project. In October 2020 four sites were selected as project case studies, each reflecting one of the four microgrid archetypes:
- Single Enterprise: 1 participant in Pokolbin, NSW
- Edge of Grid: 1 participant in St George, QLD
- Large-scale Microgrid: 8 participants in the Pioneer Valley, QLD
- Anchor Host/Hybrid: 1 participant in Wee Waa, NSW
This project required a commitment of 50 installed meters; we have installed at least another 10 meters in recent months to provide the richest data set possible.
With meters installed, real-time data collection has commenced, feeding directly into a custom dashboard and real-time modelling tool. While 12 months of data is collected, the team is working with other stakeholders on related projects including a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), biodigester feasibility modelling, and other agricultural production data inputs.
We have surveyed our participating farmers, establishing a baseline of social, economic, and technical factors to identify our participants’ decision-making levers. This data will help us measure the change in understanding and appetite for smart grid tech over the course of the project.
As the project unfolds, we look forward to sharing data insights as well as lessons learned, best practices, and any other supporting resources which could be of benefit to our community.
The stages of the project are illustrated in the image below.