- Published:
- Wednesday 26 June 2024
The Albanese Labor and Allan Labor Governments are supporting the Corryong community to improve their energy resilience and help keep the power on during emergencies such as bushfires and storms.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt and Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio announced that construction on the $28.6 million Corryong Microgrid will begin today. Once complete the microgrid will be able to power more than 900 local households and businesses for up to five days.
A microgrid is a small subset of the electricity grid that provides energy generation and storage at a local level. They can incorporate renewable generation, such as from solar panels or wind turbines, as well as battery storage.
The Corryong microgrid will operate independently of the grid during power outages – referred to as ‘islanding’ - helping isolated communities to keep their power on when the grid goes down. The Corryong Microgrid uses a centralised 4.98 megawatt battery, diesel generator and advanced switching technology.
This project is funded through two programs:
Round 1 of the Albanese Government’s Disaster Ready Fund, with an $7 million investment from the Albanese Government and $8 million from the Allan Labor Government and AusNet Enterprise. The Disaster Ready Fund is investing up to $200 million a year from the Albanese Government in projects which boost Australia’s natural disaster resilience, ensuring communities can withstand disasters better, and recover faster.
- The Allan Labor Government’s Community Microgrid and Sustainable Energy Program, which is also funding microgrids in Mallacoota and Omeo – towns that were identified as support communities during extreme weather following the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires. The program is providing more reliable power supply and building energy-resilient rural communities through supporting the installation of solar, batteries and other energy infrastructure for a range of buildings including essential service buildings, commercial and industrial buildings and households.
- All other capital expenditure and operating expenditure will be covered by AusNet Enterprise.
Installation of a solar, battery and diesel generator system on the Corryong Police Station by RACV Solar will begin soon, and a number of solar and battery systems are currently being installed. The Microgrid is expected to be operating in summer 2026.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt
“The Albanese Government is pleased to be co-funding this important project through the very first round of our Disaster Ready Fund. By working together with the Allan Government, we are supporting towns like Corryong to improve their energy resilience in the face of increasing extreme weather.
“In the past, the region has experienced disconnection from the electricity grid for over a month due to bushfires, so this new microgrid will make a significant difference in keeping the community safer and better connected.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio
“Victorians in communities like Corryong’s are acutely aware of the increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather as the climate changes. This advanced microgrid will provide crucial support during emergencies.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes
“When the fires hit, power security was a crucial concern. With this new project, locals can be assured that in the worst case scenario, Corryong will have the reliable power needed in an emergency.”