The Upper Murray Energy Resilience and Reliability Project
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIGO POWER
The Upper Murray Energy Resilience and Reliability Project (UMERRP), was developed in response to the devastating 2019/20 bushfires.
The Project directly addresses the reliability, vulnerability and variability of the Upper Murray electricity supply. The need for this work was clearly highlighted by the 2019-20 bushfires where power-outages lasted for up to three weeks in many areas, including loss of communications.
Power brownouts are another regular problem, causing significant losses to businesses in the region and hindering economic growth.
This project seeks to build the resilience capacity of each local community and enable future reliance on locally generated renewable energy, while reducing facility operating costs and improving energy efficiency. The ultimate goal is to stabilise the power grid, assisting in decreased power-outages and brownouts.
Upper Murray Incorporated, in partnership with Indigo Power, managed the project rollout.
The Energy Resilience and Reliability Project involved investment in three key areas:
— energy nodes;
— community-scale batteries and;
— heat pump hot water services
The energy nodes include solar PV systems, battery storage and backup generators for key community and critical assets. In times of emergency or blackouts, this will provide backup power for facilities to remain open and allow goods and services to be accessible across the region.
The community-scale batteries act to stabilise the local power grid and assist in reducing facility operating costs. They are connected to emergency facilities such as community hospitals and proposed emergency relief centres providing community wide back-up power.
To know more about installed systems, see the project handbook here.
The heat pump hot water services assist to stabilise the grid at the household level by reducing peak night-time power demand. The supply and installation of these heat pumps, to replace traditional electric hot water units, were eligible for a rebate under the program.
This included 22 free hot water heat pump units to Upper Murray residents who lost their primary home during the fires and another 100 heavy subsidised units discounted services to local residents.
Our project partner — Indigo Power
Indigo Power is a community-owned public energy company and a certified social enterprise delivering services that connect local communities to renewable energy. Their mission is to drive the transition to clean energy and deliver 100% renewable energy across North East Victoria and Southern New South Wales, in a way that supports and empowers communities.
Learn more about Indigo Power
Project Updates
The Upper Murray Energy Resilience and Reliability Project delivers:
1. Energy Nodes: A combination of solar, battery and generator systems will be installed at up to 27 critical sites across the Upper Murray. The energy systems will range in size from 5kW – 15kW solar PV; 6kWh to 30kWh battery and/or 5kVA to 30kVA back-up generators including changeover switch.
2. Community-Scale Batteries: Community-scale solar and battery systems will be installed at two hospitals and one evacuation centre. These energy systems may range between 60kW – 70kW solar PV and/or 208kWh up to 274kWh battery systems; and back-up generator as required.
The Project is the first step in a plan to improve electricity reliability and resilience across the whole of the Upper Murray region through the deployment of local energy generation and storage, and micro-grid technologies.
The energy systems shall include the installation of the Mondo UBI hardware for future opportunities within Virtual Power Plant (VPP’s) and Microgrid development (not included in this project). The project includes the design, supply and installation of solar power systems in combination with battery storage and back-up diesel generators.
This Project was funded by the Victorian State Government Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions through a Local Economic Recovery Program grant.
3. Microgrids: We are seeking members of the Upper Murray community to become part of the Upper Murray Community Microgrid Interest Group. To achieve a future microgrid, the group will look to achieve a number of objectives for the broader community and to kick start a new phase. Click here for more information or to register your interest.