Mossman Gorge microgrid project

Yes, it’s true, we are building a high-voltage, grid-connected microgrid at Mossman Gorge.

A microgrid is a section of network containing one or many distributed energy resources, such as solar PV, wind, and battery energy storage systems, that can separate from the wider electrical network and operate autonomously when required.

In simple terms, the Mossman Gorge microgrid is a battery connected to the main electricity network that can operate independently in ‘island mode’ to supply backup power when the main grid supply is disrupted or unavailable, like during network outages.

With advances in technology, microgrids are becoming intelligent energy systems, designed to be self-sufficient and to power the electricity needs of a discrete group of customers or small community like Mossman Gorge.

Communities like Mossman Gorge that are located at the extremity of the electricity network experience power outages whenever there is a fault upstream of them along the length of the powerline. As a result, these communities face more frequent and longer outages. This is because of the length of the powerlines that supply their electricity, as well as a range of environmental factors, and because they are often in hard-to-reach locations which present access challenges for our crews responding to unplanned outages.

With advances in technology over the past decade or so, we can build a microgrid at Mossman Gorge to improve the reliability of the power supply for the community.

The microgrid will comprise of a battery, inverter, and communications equipment, which will be mounted on a concrete slab and housed within secure enclosures – see the artist impression images below. Depending on requirements, the site may be fenced.

The microgrid’s battery is made up of several smaller batteries, joined together to make a big battery. They will be housed in a specially designed shipping container that keeps the batteries secure while still allowing our team access to monitor and maintain the batteries as needed – see example below. The equipment in the cabinets will be temperature controlled and remotely monitored for optimal performance and safety.

The final look of the microgrid will depend on the community’s energy needs. Once these are understood, the design of the microgrid can finalised, and the project team can share images of what the microgrid will look like.

There may be an option to decorate the shipping container with artwork in collaboration with the Mossman Gorge community.

While one of the key benefits of a microgrid is its ability to operate independently of the main electricity network, the Mossman Gorge community will remain connected to the network.

The primary purpose of the microgrid is to allow us the flexibility to separate the community from the main electricity network when there is an interruption to the power supply upstream and operate in ‘island mode’ when needed.

The project commenced in late 2023 when we secured funding and established our small project team. The project will be delivered in stages, as outlined in the Project Timeline, and will be completed by late-2025.

Project timeline

• Stage 1
  • Secure funding and establish project team
  • July  2023 - March 2024
• Stage 2
  • Microgrid tenders
  • November 2023 - May 2024
• Stage 3
  • Agree microgrid location
  • November 2023 - August 2024
• Stage 4
  • Evaluate and award tender
  • April 2024 - December 2024
• Stage 5
  • Construct and Commissioning microgrid
  • October 2024 - September 2025

No, apart from seeing the microgrid equipment in the community, you won’t see changes to how electricity is supplied to you, or to your power bill.

When the project is completed and the microgrid is operational, you may notice that the reliability of the electricity supply at Mossman Gorge has improved as the microgrid will operate when there is an outage on the main electricity network.

Construction projects can be disruptive to the community and the microgrid may present some impacts. Impacts typically associated with the construction of a project like this include:

• Civil works – civil earth moving works to level the site and establish the microgrid’s foundations will be required in the construction phase.
• Noise, dust, and vibration - audible noise, possible dust and localised vibration from construction activities can be expected.
• Construction traffic – a small increase in vehicles and equipment moving around the site during construction and commissioning phases.
• Access and disruptions to traffic – from time to time during construction, we may introduce traffic control and/or speed limitations around the site to keep our crews and the public safe. This may include when heavy equipment is being delivered to site and is not expected to cause major delays.

There will also be positive impacts associated with the project including:

• A bit of a boost to the local economy
• Some local contract work may be available for civil works and fencing etc.
• And the opportunity for the community to be involved in the project through activities and events.

We anticipate the impacts associated with the construction of the Mossman Gorge will be very minor, and the project team will continue to keep the community and key stakeholders updated throughout the project.

Yes – Ergon Energy Network will own, and continue to operate and maintain, the new microgrid and the existing network assets.

BESS stands for Battery Energy Storage System, but they are commonly known as batteries.

They are a type of energy storage system that uses batteries to store energy from the grid, to be used when it’s needed.

They come in various shapes and sizes, and they can use different technologies. They are essentially a rechargeable battery that can store energy from the grid, often from renewable energy sources like solar PV, that can be used at times of high demand when solar power isn’t available, like at night when everyone comes home and turns on their air conditioners and other electrical appliances.

Batteries also help with smoothing the power output when the solar system is intermittent, like when a cloud passes over.

As part of the microgrid, the BESS will be connected to and charged by the existing electricity network.

The battery will be installed and maintained to the same high standard we would for any of our other electricity network assets. The operational practices for the batteries in the trial will also minimise the safety risks.

All chemical or energy infrastructure in the community, whether a petrol station or other electricity infrastructure, have some risks.

To address this, we will use the latest technology batteries, and they will be built in a cleared area. They will also be monitored remotely 24/7.

The likelihood of an incident is very low, however in the unlikely event the batteries’ alarms are triggered, we will have protocols in place to respond. Prior to commissioning the batteries, we will engage with the local fire brigade and other emergency services, and we’ll have an appropriate Emergency Management Plan established.

The lithium-ion batteries we are using are expected to have a minimum life of 10 years, depending on how they are operated. They could have a life of up to 15 years.

Yes, batteries are already being recycled. We have several battery projects across Queensland, and we have engaged with an Australian recycling company to work with us to reduce our impact on country.

We will continue to review what is best practice, and our preferred recycler or recyclers, as our investment in battery technology continues to scale up.

We expect recycling services to evolve, potentially with economic opportunities for Queensland, as electric vehicle batteries drive demand for these services.

The batteries in the microgrid have cooling fans enclosed in the units that will operate to keep the battery at the required temperature for safe operation. These fans are no louder than a household kitchen extractor fan or air conditioner unit and only operate intermittently, so it’s unlikely the community will hear noise from the batteries.

When new electrical infrastructure projects, like the Mossman Gorge Microgrid are discussed, many people ask about electric and magnetic fields (EMF). EMF are generated by any object with electric current flowing through it, including powerlines and all electrical appliances used in homes, such as televisions, washing machines, microwaves, hair dryers and computers.

The level of EMF from the microgrid batteries will depend on the amount of current in the units. The fields decrease in strength the further you move away from the source. We will be building the microgrid in a cleared location, well away from the Mossman Gorge community.

The equipment Ergon uses and installs onto our network must comply with strict industry standards and our standards for EMF emissions continue to be better than those required by Australian and international health authorities.

We’ve got more detailed information on EMF and links to other relevant organisations on our Electric and magnetic fields web page.

Yes! Ergon’s community engagement team – pictured below - will be working with the Mossman Gorge community and other key stakeholders throughout the project.

We will have a range of information, updates, and events to keep the community up to date on project progress and explain how the microgrid will work.

Senior Community Engagement Advisor, Kate Austin on 1300 653 055 or email us at: NetworkProjectEngagement@energyq.com.au.

Download a print-ready copy of the Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 1.3 mb) for the Mossman Gorge Microgrid.