The Victorian Government will contribute $980,000 towards the Ovida Community Energy Hub project, as part of the Labor Government’s statewide Microgrid Demonstration Initiative.
The $2 million Ovida project will install shared solar PV and battery systems in three buildings in Melbourne to help cut energy costs for tenants.
The initiative will benefit approximately 650 customers, generate 5000kWh of solar energy and support 11,000kWh of energy storage.
A microgrid generally operates while connected to the grid, but importantly, it can break off and operate on its own using local energy generation in times of crisis like storms or power outages. Microgrids can also share excess energy produced back into the network for other users.
Ovida will work with Moreland Energy Foundation, RMIT University, Allume Energy and Jemena to deliver the project which will deliver affordable, dispatchable and reliable energy for occupants of apartment and commercial buildings.
Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said microgrid projects are part of the plan to drive down energy prices, reduce emissions and create a pipeline of investment in renewable energy.
“This initiative will allow more households and businesses in multi-tenanted buildings to take control of their energy bills.”
The Microgrid Demonstration Initiative grant program is providing $10 million to support eight state-wide microgrid projects totaling over $37 million in value.
The Microgrid Demonstration Initiative was announced in 2017 as part of the Labor Government’s $146 million Renewable Energy Action Plan.
