The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Emergency Management
The Albanese Government is backing cleaner, more reliable power for regional communities in the NSW Southern Tablelands, with a new microgrid project in Braidwood.
The Braidwood Renewable Energy Project will deliver an islandable solar and battery microgrid for the Braidwood township and surrounding communities.
An islandable microgrid is a local energy network that can operate independently during power disruptions, helping keep communities connected when bushfires, storms or severe weather affect the broader grid.
Braidwood is located at the end of a single distribution line in a high bushfire risk area, making the town and surrounding communities more vulnerable to prolonged outages.
The project will include 5MW of solar generation and a 5MW/10MWh battery energy storage system to improve local energy security, reduce outage risks and lower reliance on diesel generation.
This is practical action to make regional communities more resilient, using the cheapest form of new energy and the storage needed to back it in.
The project will also provide valuable insights into the design, operation and economics of islandable microgrids in fire-prone and grid-constrained communities.
The microgrid is being developed by EDPR Australia, in partnership with Essential Energy and Braidwood Clean Energy, and is backed by a $3 million investment from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency through the Regional Microgrids Program.
The Albanese Government's $125 million Regional Microgrids Program is supporting the development and deployment of microgrid technologies across regional and remote communities, improving reliability while helping more communities share in the benefits of renewable energy.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen:
"The Braidwood microgrid is exactly what Australia's energy transformation is about, cleaner, cheaper and more reliable power for the communities that need it.
"Regional communities know better than most what it means when the power goes out during fires and storms. This project is about using renewable energy and storage to help keep communities connected when they need it most.
"Renewables are not just changing the grid, they are strengthening it. Projects like this show how practical, common-sense clean energy can deliver more resilience for towns like Braidwood.
"All communities should be able to share in the benefits of Australia's renewable energy future, including lower emissions, stronger local energy security and more reliable power."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management and Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain:
"Having lived through the Black Summer bushfires we all know Braidwood is in a high-risk bushfire area, which is why we are investing in providing a practical solution that will make the community more resilient come the next potential natural disaster.
"When completed this microgrid will provide Braidwood with uninterrupted electricity in the event of future grid outages, keeping the community connected when it really needs it.
"Thank you to Braidwood Clean Energy, and all of its supporters, for the huge amount of effort they have put into making their community more self-sufficient."
