A third solar micro-grid project in Yackandandah will be running by February next year, as the town gets closer to becoming 100 per cent reliant on renewable energy.
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Ten homes on Sanatorium Road will join up to the project to have solar panels, battery storage and an “ubi” computer set up at their properties to generate and share their own power.
The $932,879 project will have $380,389 contributed by the Victorian government, as announced by Northern Victorian Jaclyn Symes when she visited Yackandandah on Wednesday.
Totally Renewable Yackandandah chair Matt Grogan said that while all the city’s residents are being encouraged to take up the technology, it is still too expensive for many people.
They have also discovered the solar systems can overheat if they generate too much energy.
Mr Grogan said funding for another micro-grid would allow TRY and Mondo Energy to work on solutions to the problem, using the “ubi” computer to control when and how much energy goes back into the grid.
“(The micro-grid) goes a long way to proving this concept that we can get this town to 100 per cent renewable,” he said.
“Every moment like this, every time we capture a new bit of information to contribute to the change, is really exciting on our journey to 100 per cent.”
Every moment like this, every time we capture a new bit of information to contribute to the change, is really exciting on our journey to 100 per cent.
- TRY chair Matt Grogan
TRY was grateful for the “vital” government funding.
“To expect communities to do this on their own is probably a little bit unrealistic, considering the urgency that we’re faced with,” Mr Grogan said.
“We’re so excited to be part of this transformation.
“It’s a windy road to get where we’re going, we know we have to get to 100 per cent renewable, we know there’s urgency around that.”
Ms Symes praised Yackandandah residents for their willingness to get behind solar energy technology and said she was happy to offer support.
“I wanted to congratulate you on your efforts … This is a really exciting project to be a part of,” she said.
“I’m getting lots of enquiries from other communities that are interested in this technology and what it can do for their towns.”
The government contribution was funded through its micro-grid demonstration initiative.
“This is new technology that is going to ensure that they’ve got power security in times of reduced supply like storms and blackouts,” Ms Symes said.
“Anything that we can do to reduce emissions, reduce costs and provide benefits to the community is something that we should be right behind.”
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