A multi-million dollar initiative to build the first resilient energy community on the South Coast is underway.
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Endeavour Energy, announced today [Friday, March 25] it would fast-track a $4.8 million initiative to make Bawley Point and Kioloa the centrepiece of their first community microgrid.
The initiative, launched today at Kioloa, aims to provide a reliable, renewable and stand-alone power supply for people to use during network outages.
The community microgrid will be important during future emergencies - like bushfires.
Funded with the support of the NSW Government's Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, the initiative is a local energy system that draws electricity from renewable sources such as solar panels and batteries.
While it is connected to the main electricity grid, it can operate independently during outages, providing a consistent power supply to local customers.
Endeavour Energy Chief Executive Officer, Guy Chalkley, said the project would help deliver a more resilient energy supply in the face of increasingly frequent and extreme weather events.
He added the project would also cater for peaks in energy demand that coincide with the arrival of holidaymakers to the popular coastal area.
Mr Chalkley said a program of consultation over the coming months which will involve the community and other stakeholders in establishing the region's first operational community microgrid will now commence.
"Microgrids are clever ways to use locally generated renewable energy which is cost-efficient and reliable," he said.
"This is an exciting opportunity to partner with residents and businesses in Bawley Point and Kioloa to pioneer innovative customer-focused energy solutions that future-proof our communities, now and beyond."
Go here to register interest in participating in the community consultation process.
Mr Chalkley thanked the NSW Government for funding part of the initiative through its Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, and the Shoalhaven City Council for supplying the site for the new grid battery that, in time, will replace the diesel generator to support local electricity supply.
"With funding from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and support from Shoalhaven City Council, we are able to fast-track the delivery of our first microgrid to ensure the Bawley Point and Kioloa communities have a reliable power supply when they need it most," he said.
"Microgrids eliminate the need for large substations so in time these savings will be passed on to customers.
"It's a win for them, the network and the environment as our network creates the kind of sustainable benefits that we all want."
State Member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock, said the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery fund was designed to strengthen community resilience and reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
"More than a year has passed since we cleared 3,600 properties across NSW that were damaged or destroyed by the Black Summer Bushfires of 2019/2020, and we are continuing to deliver the support that the community needs to keep moving forward in recovery," Mrs Hancock said.
"People are rebuilding lives and through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund we are backing projects that will bring communities together, support tourism, provide improved or new social amenity, and increased preparedness to future bushfires. All of these things play a part in recovery."
Endeavour is also working with council to convert more than 170 streetlights to smart LEDs that will deliver more efficient energy usage and allow the community to keep the lights on, even when disconnected from the main network.
For more information visit www.endeavourenergy.com.au.
Endeavour provides power to 2.6 million people and businesses throughout NSW.
