Below is a list of the various projects MCE is involved with.
PUMPED HYDRO ELECTRICITY STORAGE at Trawool Reservoir
The project: Use the existing Trawool Reservoir in the Tallarook Ranges (unused since 1920s) and the Goulburn River in a pumped hydroelectric storage (PHES) scheme. Conceptually, water flows from the reservoir downhill to the river generating power when needed. In times of cheap surplus power from the grid water is pumped up from the Goulburn River to replenish the reservoir. The reservoir acts as a power storage medium, a battery.
MCE saw the potential in the juxtaposition of the reservoir and the river and have been exploring ways of exploiting it.
A pre-feasibility study carried out by the Melbourne Energy Institute and paid for by the Victorian Government’s New Energy Jobs Fund (2017) showed that the reservoir could store 36 MWh of energy, which could generate 6 MW for 6 hours (enough to power Seymour for 12 hours). The estimated cost would be $9 million and could return 7%, based on arbitrage (buying cheap and selling dear). Since then the demand for storage has intensified and under its Reliability Guarantee the Federal Government is mandating that retailers have access to sufficient despatchable power to cover the variability of wind and solar power.
Interest: Trawool Reservoir is owned by Goulburn Valley Water and GVW supports the project. The Intelligent Water Network, which is a partnership of Victorian water corporations, DELWP and VicWater, encouraged us to apply to the Victorian Government’s Climate Change Innovation Grants for further funding with GVW and IWN as partners. That was unsuccessful but DELWP set up a “market place” for the unsuccessful applicants at which a representative from ARENA suggested we apply there. Infigen, the developers of the Cherry Tree windfarm on the other side of the river, may also be interested in the project as a means of firming their output.
The next step is to have a full design and costing leading to a business case that can be pitched to potential investors. Although it is small compared to other PHES schemes being discussed a number of such units throughout the network would be a better match to the future of distributed power sources. This could be a model for them.
SEYMOUR SPORTS AND AQUATIC CENTRE
The project: to place photo-voltaic panels on the roof of SSAC. The system design is a 99kW “behind-the-meter” project, generating 20% of the power needs of the complex.
MCE worked with Mitchell Shire Council to progress the project.
Project Cost: A feasibility study done by Moreland Energy Foundation showed that an installation of 99kW would cost about $120,000 and pay for itself in about 5 years.
Financing: Initially there was uncertainty about how the project might be funded. MCE proposed to Council that MCE invite the community to invest the necessary funds and loan them to Council to purchase and install the panels. Council would then pay annually an interest on the loan from their reduced power costs. MCE then formed the Mitchell Community Energy Co-operative Ltd. to manage the scheme and received enough to pay for the project. However, Council found that they were able to fund the project themselves.
Installation by a local installer was completed in August 2019.
KARINGAL ELDERLY CITIZENS HOSTEL
The project: 99kW rooftop PV “behind-the-meter” on Karingal Elderly Citizens Hostel in Seymour.
MCE pitched the proposal to the Board, obtained quotations and presented it with options for financing.
Project Cost: Karingal Board chose an option of a 7 year contract with rental from Origin Energfor 2 years, with an option to buy the final five years out. Karingal has a similar electrical demand to the Aquatic Centre with a similar potential return (almost $30,000 per annum).
After assessing the project ourselves using the Alternative Technology Association’s Sunulater software, MCE developed the project brief, identified appropriately qualified local designer/installers and obtained four quotations to install 99kW of photo-voltaic panels on its (very complex) roof. MCE presented these to the board along with some recommendations for financing, which did not include community financing as MCE were not then set up for it. Origin Energy used an installer from Seymour.
GOULBURN OPTIONS
The Project: Goulburn Options contacted MCE in 2018 to assess their building in High Street Seymour with a view to reduce the electrical energy costs and improve its comfort. CEO Rosey Panelli had already initiated the replacement of all lighting with LED lights and obtain the benefit of the Victorian Government’s Energy Upgrades scheme (VEECs). This was completed early 2019.
Among other energy conservation opportunities discussed were:
Hot water: Replace the existing resistive hot water unit by a heat pump unit would save energy and also be eligible for VEECs. Not yet done.
Roof insulation: The roof has a lot of equipment to be removed if extra insulation was considered, so MCE recommended heat reflective paint on the roof as the best option (summer benefit only). Still to be evaluated.
Electricity tariff: GO was on a peak/off-peak tariff, but since almost all demand was during the day MCE recommended going to a flat-rate tariff. Eventually the retailer offered a reduced rate as an alternative, which was accepted.
Rooftop PV panels: The Commonwealth Government is running a “Energy Efficient Communities program and called for expressions of interest earlier this year. With MCE assistance GO put in for a 10kW installation. The actual applications are to open in October. In the meantime an alternative for MCE to consider is to use our co-operative for the community to fund it.
TIP SOLAR FARM
The old Seymour tip in Hume and Hovell Road is now being rehabilitated. The area is about 5 Ha, there are two 22kV feeders crossing it and the substation is a short distance away on Anzac Avenue.
MCE has approached Mitchell Shire with the proposal and discussed it with Ausnet Services.
Ausnet Services have agreed that it is an ideal site for a solar farm. Mitchell Shire Council officers are in agreement with the proposal and will pay costs associated with a feasibility study. We have formally requested Ausnet Services to do a feasibility assessment.
PV ON CARPARKS
MCE have talked often about the potential of PV generation on carparks. This involves a roof structure over a carpark (Chittick Park, Railway car park, supermarket car parks) and PVs covering the roof, or even BEING the roof. This power has an attraction for directly charging vehicles under in the transition to EVs, or for local powering of adjacent buildings as a virtual power station. Mitchell Shire Council have done some in-house work on this idea.
PUMPED HYDRO ELECTRICITY STORAGE at Trawool Reservoir
The project: Use the existing Trawool Reservoir in the Tallarook Ranges (unused since 1920s) and the Goulburn River in a pumped hydroelectric storage (PHES) scheme. Conceptually, water flows from the reservoir downhill to the river generating power when needed. In times of cheap surplus power from the grid water is pumped up from the Goulburn River to replenish the reservoir. The reservoir acts as a power storage medium, a battery.
MCE saw the potential in the juxtaposition of the reservoir and the river and have been exploring ways of exploiting it.
A pre-feasibility study carried out by the Melbourne Energy Institute and paid for by the Victorian Government’s New Energy Jobs Fund (2017) showed that the reservoir could store 36 MWh of energy, which could generate 6 MW for 6 hours (enough to power Seymour for 12 hours). The estimated cost would be $9 million and could return 7%, based on arbitrage (buying cheap and selling dear). Since then the demand for storage has intensified and under its Reliability Guarantee the Federal Government is mandating that retailers have access to sufficient despatchable power to cover the variability of wind and solar power.
Interest: Trawool Reservoir is owned by Goulburn Valley Water and GVW supports the project. The Intelligent Water Network, which is a partnership of Victorian water corporations, DELWP and VicWater, encouraged us to apply to the Victorian Government’s Climate Change Innovation Grants for further funding with GVW and IWN as partners. That was unsuccessful but DELWP set up a “market place” for the unsuccessful applicants at which a representative from ARENA suggested we apply there. Infigen, the developers of the Cherry Tree windfarm on the other side of the river, may also be interested in the project as a means of firming their output.
The next step is to have a full design and costing leading to a business case that can be pitched to potential investors. Although it is small compared to other PHES schemes being discussed a number of such units throughout the network would be a better match to the future of distributed power sources. This could be a model for them.
SEYMOUR SPORTS AND AQUATIC CENTRE
The project: to place photo-voltaic panels on the roof of SSAC. The system design is a 99kW “behind-the-meter” project, generating 20% of the power needs of the complex.
MCE worked with Mitchell Shire Council to progress the project.
Project Cost: A feasibility study done by Moreland Energy Foundation showed that an installation of 99kW would cost about $120,000 and pay for itself in about 5 years.
Financing: Initially there was uncertainty about how the project might be funded. MCE proposed to Council that MCE invite the community to invest the necessary funds and loan them to Council to purchase and install the panels. Council would then pay annually an interest on the loan from their reduced power costs. MCE then formed the Mitchell Community Energy Co-operative Ltd. to manage the scheme and received enough to pay for the project. However, Council found that they were able to fund the project themselves.
Installation by a local installer was completed in August 2019.
KARINGAL ELDERLY CITIZENS HOSTEL
The project: 99kW rooftop PV “behind-the-meter” on Karingal Elderly Citizens Hostel in Seymour.
MCE pitched the proposal to the Board, obtained quotations and presented it with options for financing.
Project Cost: Karingal Board chose an option of a 7 year contract with rental from Origin Energfor 2 years, with an option to buy the final five years out. Karingal has a similar electrical demand to the Aquatic Centre with a similar potential return (almost $30,000 per annum).
After assessing the project ourselves using the Alternative Technology Association’s Sunulater software, MCE developed the project brief, identified appropriately qualified local designer/installers and obtained four quotations to install 99kW of photo-voltaic panels on its (very complex) roof. MCE presented these to the board along with some recommendations for financing, which did not include community financing as MCE were not then set up for it. Origin Energy used an installer from Seymour.
GOULBURN OPTIONS
The Project: Goulburn Options contacted MCE in 2018 to assess their building in High Street Seymour with a view to reduce the electrical energy costs and improve its comfort. CEO Rosey Panelli had already initiated the replacement of all lighting with LED lights and obtain the benefit of the Victorian Government’s Energy Upgrades scheme (VEECs). This was completed early 2019.
Among other energy conservation opportunities discussed were:
Hot water: Replace the existing resistive hot water unit by a heat pump unit would save energy and also be eligible for VEECs. Not yet done.
Roof insulation: The roof has a lot of equipment to be removed if extra insulation was considered, so MCE recommended heat reflective paint on the roof as the best option (summer benefit only). Still to be evaluated.
Electricity tariff: GO was on a peak/off-peak tariff, but since almost all demand was during the day MCE recommended going to a flat-rate tariff. Eventually the retailer offered a reduced rate as an alternative, which was accepted.
Rooftop PV panels: The Commonwealth Government is running a “Energy Efficient Communities program and called for expressions of interest earlier this year. With MCE assistance GO put in for a 10kW installation. The actual applications are to open in October. In the meantime an alternative for MCE to consider is to use our co-operative for the community to fund it.
TIP SOLAR FARM
The old Seymour tip in Hume and Hovell Road is now being rehabilitated. The area is about 5 Ha, there are two 22kV feeders crossing it and the substation is a short distance away on Anzac Avenue.
MCE has approached Mitchell Shire with the proposal and discussed it with Ausnet Services.
Ausnet Services have agreed that it is an ideal site for a solar farm. Mitchell Shire Council officers are in agreement with the proposal and will pay costs associated with a feasibility study. We have formally requested Ausnet Services to do a feasibility assessment.
PV ON CARPARKS
MCE have talked often about the potential of PV generation on carparks. This involves a roof structure over a carpark (Chittick Park, Railway car park, supermarket car parks) and PVs covering the roof, or even BEING the roof. This power has an attraction for directly charging vehicles under in the transition to EVs, or for local powering of adjacent buildings as a virtual power station. Mitchell Shire Council have done some in-house work on this idea.