https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-06/solar-micro-grid-helping-public-housing-residents-save-money/100188338
Solar micro-grid helping public-housing residents save money

For many people like Carol Johansen, living on a budget is a fact of life

The public housing resident meticulously plans her weekly budget.

“I’m having to be very strict and know where every cent goes with my budget, so I write it all down,” she said.

Sometimes the squeeze has meant not using heating — which has been bad for chronic health issues — and missing out on social events.

But since moving into her new home, there has been some relief.

She is now living in one of five two-bedroom, local-council-operated, public-housing units in Nubeena, in southern Tasmania.

The units are part of pilot program run by not-for-profit group Tasman Peninsula Power (TPP), which has set up what it says is the state’s first micro-grid.

A micro-grid is a small power network that can run independently of the state’s main grid.

Power generated by the network’s solar panels goes either directly into the houses or into a nearby centralised battery for storage.

With solar cheap to run, her power bill has substantially reduced and Carol can focus on the important things.

“In the summer the price has cut down to a third of what I was paying … so yeah, there’s been a major drop in the price,” she said.

“I’m able to go and visit my daughter in Hobart and have a bit more extra to myself.”

dv said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-06/solar-micro-grid-helping-public-housing-residents-save-money/100188338
Solar micro-grid helping public-housing residents save money

For many people like Carol Johansen, living on a budget is a fact of life

The public housing resident meticulously plans her weekly budget.

“I’m having to be very strict and know where every cent goes with my budget, so I write it all down,” she said.

Sometimes the squeeze has meant not using heating — which has been bad for chronic health issues — and missing out on social events.

But since moving into her new home, there has been some relief.

She is now living in one of five two-bedroom, local-council-operated, public-housing units in Nubeena, in southern Tasmania.

The units are part of pilot program run by not-for-profit group Tasman Peninsula Power (TPP), which has set up what it says is the state’s first micro-grid.

A micro-grid is a small power network that can run independently of the state’s main grid.

Power generated by the network’s solar panels goes either directly into the houses or into a nearby centralised battery for storage.

With solar cheap to run, her power bill has substantially reduced and Carol can focus on the important things.

“In the summer the price has cut down to a third of what I was paying … so yeah, there’s been a major drop in the price,” she said.

“I’m able to go and visit my daughter in Hobart and have a bit more extra to myself.”

I vaguely remember that there have been several microgrids in mainland Australia?
Where there is more sun and vaster differences?

As for solar cheap to run, well, cheaper than hundreds of km of copper wiring to connect to the main grid.

Microgrids are generally set up where the cost of laying supply infrastructure is expensive – spend $250k to get Ergon to put in two poles and 200m of cable to a small community, or spend $150k on batteries and DIY.

You will notice in the above article that the setup-cost was covered by someone else, allowing the end user to reap the benefits.

https://www.westernpower.com.au/our-energy-evolution/projects-and-trials/kalbarri-microgrid/

https://www.westernpower.com.au/our-energy-evolution/grid-technology/microgrid-technology/

There are currently 4 microgrids in WA: Kalbarri, Perenjori, Bremer Bay and Ravensthorpe.

Dark Orange said:

Microgrids are generally set up where the cost of laying supply infrastructure is expensive – spend $250k to get Ergon to put in two poles and 200m of cable to a small community, or spend $150k on batteries and DIY.

You will notice in the above article that the setup-cost was covered by someone else, allowing the end user to reap the benefits.

$250,000 for two poles and a bit of wire?

I could do the same for $200,000. Put two poles and wires in for around $10,000.

$190,000 profit.

WTF?

Kingy said:

Dark Orange said:

Microgrids are generally set up where the cost of laying supply infrastructure is expensive – spend $250k to get Ergon to put in two poles and 200m of cable to a small community, or spend $150k on batteries and DIY.

You will notice in the above article that the setup-cost was covered by someone else, allowing the end user to reap the benefits.

$250,000 for two poles and a bit of wire?

I could do the same for $200,000. Put two poles and wires in for around $10,000.

$190,000 profit.

WTF?

Yeah, but it’s not your land to put the poles up. A friend a couple of hundred meters off the highway and the supply grid was quoted $30k per pole (and he needed 3 of them) to get electricity supplied. He found it cheaper to spend money on a decent off-grid system.