The town of Derwent Bridge in Tasmania’s Central Highlands will be part of an innovative project to evaluate the suitability of a microgrid energy system.

TasNetworks has been granted $1,601,143 to undertake the project under Round Two of the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund.

Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Claire Chandler, said the funding program was part of the Morrison Coalition Government’s commitment to deliver reliable energy solutions to rural and regional communities.

“The Morrison Government is continuing to support the supply of secure, reliable and affordable power, and the project will assess the technical and economic viability of a microgrid at Derwent Bridge,” Senator Chandler said.

“Part of the study will also analyse the impact of a microgrid on the local economy and the effect on power prices.”

Tasmanian Minister for Energy, Guy Barnett said the TasNetworks study would evaluate whether a microgrid would provide an alternative energy solution to the town’s existing power reliability issues.

“Microgrids reduce reliance on diesel generation, cut emissions, and provide secure source of electricity for households and businesses,” Minister Barnett said.

“The Tasmanian Liberal Government is working to further expand our capacity of renewable and reliable energy generation, and this study complements our work on major initiatives including Project Marinus, Battery of the Nation and renewable hydrogen.”

Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said regional and remote communities face unique energy challenges and the Government is committed to ensuring they are not disadvantaged by unreliable and expensive energy.

“The Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund is all about shoring up the supply of secure, reliable and affordable energy for regional Australians and empowering communities to make the choices to best suit their energy needs,” Minister Taylor said.

Round Two of the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund is committing $25.6 million to back 20 microgrid feasibility studies across the country.

A full list of successful projects under Round Two of the Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund will be published at: https://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/regional-and-remote-communities-reliability-fund-microgrids