The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced the launch of the $50 million Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Program (RAMPP) to support microgrid pilot projects across regional Australia.
Announced in the 2020-21 Federal Budget, the six-year microgrid pilots program aims to improve the resilience and reliability of electricity supply in regional communities and demonstrate solutions to technical, regulatory or commercial barriers to the deployment of microgrid technologies in Australia.
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The launch of RAMPP builds on the Government’s $50.4 million Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund (RRCRF), which funded feasibility studies for regional and remote communities to investigate deployment of local microgrid technologies.
For remote communities, microgrids offer a pathway to switch to renewable energy, reduce emissions, costs and fuel security issues and improve reliability and security for remote communities with weak grids or grids that are reliant on diesel generation. They also help to increase renewable energy penetration and value through coordination of resources and provision of services from distributed energy resources.
RAMPP funding will be available to projects that have been proven to be viable through a feasibility study. ARENA is expecting applications demonstrating grid connected microgrids, standalone power systems (SAPS), and remote isolated microgrids.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said RAMPP funding would support the demonstration of a wide range of microgrid technologies.
“Whether it’s maintaining electricity supply during and after emergencies such as bushfires and floods, or improving the reliability and security of power supply in remote communities, this program will showcase the diverse benefits microgrids offer regional Australia,” Miller said.
“With feasibility studies funded in every state, RRCRF is showing us that microgrids provide an exciting opportunity to integrate renewables into regional communities. ARENA is proud to be delivering this next step, funding pilot projects that demonstrate the real world potential and community benefit of microgrids.”
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ARENA has previously supported remote microgrid projects to reduce diesel consumption such as SETuP in the Northern Territory, and on Lord Howe Island, Flinders Island, Garden Island and Rottnest Island. Last year, ARENA also provided funding to Horizon Power’s Denham Hydrogen Demonstration Plant, the first remote microgrid system in Australia to integrate hydrogen generation.
RAMPP funding applications are open from September 24, 2021. For more information and how to apply visit the funding page.
