EDP Renewables Australia has been awarded $3 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to develop the Braidwood Renewable Microgrid Project in New South Wales.
The Braidwood Renewable Microgrid Project is a community-focused microgrid pilot designed to provide energy security for local communities located in vulnerable parts of the grid, where damage to distribution lines can cause prolonged power outages.
The microgrid will enable the community to maintain power if grid connection is lost, keeping essential services running while repairs are underway. Once successfully demonstrated in Braidwood, the microgrid solution could provide the basis for replication in areas where the grid is vulnerable to unplanned outages.
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Initiated in response to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire crisis, the project addresses the critical energy resilience challenges exposed during extreme weather events. Developed in collaboration with local community group Braidwood Clean Energy, the facility comprises a town-scale 5MWac of solar capacity and a 5MW/10MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
Central to its design is the “island-mode” capability, which allows the system to safely disconnect from a compromised national grid and operate autonomously as a self-sustaining local microgrid. This operational flexibility ensures a secure, continuous energy supply when the connection to the grid is disrupted.
Energy generated by the system will be exported to the National Electricity Market (NEM) and is anticipated to offset approximately 7,537tCO2e per year. During extreme weather events, the system will pivot, if necessary, to supply the local Braidwood community and the nearby township of Majors Creek with the energy they need.
Braidwood Clean Energy president Paul Cockram said, “Braidwood Clean Energy was established in 2019 to promote energy efficiency and solar energy for the region.
“Braidwood and its surrounding villages and farms are innovative, progressive and optimistic about the future. When we learned of possible funding to develop a modern approach to energy security, we formed a partnership with EDP Renewables Australia to help make it happen.
“This ‘island-able’ solar-generated power supply will demonstrate that Braidwood can be both historic and futuristic in a way that other towns will surely follow.”
EDP Renewables Australia country director Simon Franklin said, “Our commitment to the local community is at the heart of this project. We are grateful to Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, Minister for Emergency Management and local member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain, and the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council for their vital support in the project’s development.
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“Together, we are not just safeguarding the local community from severe grid disruptions, we are also setting a new standard for Australia’s energy transition.”
If approved, construction works are scheduled to commence during the first quarter of 2027, with commissioning scheduled for February 2028.
