The new Huntlee residential development in the NSW region of Hunter Valley could be built off-the-grid and powered by renewable energy, according to an investigation by global alternative asset manager Brookfield.
The $1.1 million initial study is receiving $442,000 from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Huntlee, which will be developed by LWP Property Group, will be the first new town in Hunter Valley in 50 years and will house 20,000 new residents in 7,500 new homes. If the proposed model for Huntlee is successful, it will become Australia’s first town-scale greenfield microgrid.
ARENA Chief Executive Ivor Frischknecht said substantial connection costs and the falling cost of renewable energy make it a good time to explore the option of forgoing grid connection altogether.
“If this latest work shows renewables, battery storage and enabling technologies can reliably and cost effectively power new suburbs, it could set a precedent for residential developments and potentially accelerate the uptake of renewables in Australia,” Mr Frischknecht said.
“There are a number of regulatory challenges and constraints and technical risks facing microgrids. Brookfield will share key insights about overcoming these barriers with the energy industry,” he added.
Huntlee, which will be developed by LWP Property Group, will be the first new town in Hunter Valley in 50 years and will house 20,000 new residents in 7,500 new homes. If the proposed model for Huntlee is successful, it will become Australia’s first town-scale greenfield microgrid.
ARENA Chief Executive Ivor Frischknecht said substantial connection costs and the falling cost of renewable energy make it a good time to explore the option of forgoing grid connection altogether.
“If this latest work shows renewables, battery storage and enabling technologies can reliably and cost effectively power new suburbs, it could set a precedent for residential developments and potentially accelerate the uptake of renewables in Australia,” Mr Frischknecht said.
“There are a number of regulatory challenges and constraints and technical risks facing microgrids. Brookfield will share key insights about overcoming these barriers with the energy industry,” he added.
Flow Systems, a Brookfield company, is spearheading Brookfield’s sustainable multi-utility initiative across Australia.
“Our goal is to develop a model that has 10 times the penetration of renewables for the equivalent cost of energy. Proving this can be done technically and commercially will be a real step change for embedded renewables in this country,” Flow Systems Managing Director Terry Leckie said.
More information about the project:
Lead organisation: Brookfield Energy Australia
Project partners: Flow Systems, Siemens, Kinesis, CSIRO
Location: Hunter Valley, NSW
Technology: Hybrid and enabling technologies
ARENA program: Advancing Renewables Program
Start date: October 2015
Need: All Australian suburbs close to existing infrastructure are currently connected to one of the country’s main electricity networks. Little is known about the opportunities and barriers to powering new residential developments with renewable energy and enabling technology, rather than connecting to the grid. Project innovation: Brookfield Energy Australia, through Flow Systems, will work with project partners to determine whether renewables, battery storage and enabling technologies can reliably and cost-effectively power new suburbs.
The project aims to create an innovative controlled microgrid that integrates and controls central generation with home energy systems.
