Project Update and Next Steps

Yarra Ranges Council is moving forward with the Monbulk Microgrid Project, guided by the findings from the Resilient Energy Precinct feasibility study which was open for engagement and community consultation during 2023.

Supported by the Federal Government’s Preparing Australian Communities Fund, this project will link the Monbulk Sporting Pavilion and the Monbulk Living and Learning Centre, enabling these two facilities to share power within a small-scale microgrid.

A microgrid is essentially a smaller version of the main electricity grid, connecting a limited number of buildings to locally produced energy. In Monbulk, solar panels installed on the Sports Pavilion and the Living and Learning Centre will generate this energy. Any surplus energy will be stored in a battery and shared between the buildings. These two locations were specifically chosen due to:

• Their close proximity to one another.
• Both buildings being council-owned and situated on council land under a single title.
• The Monbulk Living and Learning Centre already having solar panels installed.

The scope of the project includes installing solar panels on the Sports Pavilion and adding a battery between the buildings to store and distribute energy. The existing solar system at the Living and Learning Centre will also contribute to the microgrid. In the event of a power outage, the microgrid can disconnect from the main grid and continue operating using the stored energy and solar power. Additionally, a generator plug-in point will be added as a backup option. This microgrid will ensure that the Sports Pavilion and the Living and Learning Centre can serve as vital community resources during extended power outages or emergency situations.

The project timeline is as follows:

• Procurement Phase: June to August 2024
• Design Development Phase: September to October/November 2024
• Construction Completion: March 2025

Please note that this timeline may change due to weather conditions or construction delays, but the project remains on track.

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