After building a little momentum in the first 4 years, 2018 and 2019 were busy! Microgrid trials, awards for TRY and our partners, solar/battery installations for community buildings, community and nonprofit organisations. And fundraising for Yack’s first community battery!
2019
29 September 2019
Community Energy Hub Launch
The Community Energy Hub is the product of three years of hard work by TRY, Mondo and the newly formed Indigo Power. Most excitedly, residents will now be able to trade locally generated renewable energy.
At the launch at the Public Hall, a full house listened to Cathy McGowan AO, Cr Jenny O’Connor (Mayor of Indigo Shire), Matthew Charles-Jones (TRY), Rod Jones (Distributed Energy Resources, Mondo) and Ben McGowan (MD, Indigo Power). Matt, Rod and Ben then took questions from the audience to further explain how it all worked.
In Australia, energy cannot be shared or traded except via an energy retailer. The Hub is essentially a means by which energy can be traded within the region and consists of a competitive retail tariff from community energy retailer Indigo Power, who will return 50% of profits to clean energy and community projects in local towns.
This means that Indigo Power patrons generating excess solar will get paid for it via a feed-in tariff, and any neighbours also with Indigo Power can purchase that power. Power that can’t be supplied locally is imported from the grid and is fully carbon offset. As community-scale storage and generation projects are added to the local grid, more local energy will be available, and it all contributes to the 100% renewable energy goal!
Some of the Indigo Power, TRY and Mondo representatives are shown in the photo with Cathy McGowan AO holding up the hub brochure.
25 September 2019
Yackandandah virtual power plant (VPP) launch!
We had a terrific and intimate celebration in Yack today for the completion of solar installations on ten public buildings, three of which have batteries.
After five years of sustained effort, the ten public buildings have a combined total of 75 kW of solar panels and 36 kWh of batteries. The buildings include the Public Hall, Sports Park, CFA, Museum, Masonic Hall andHealth Service in Yackandandah, and the Osbornes Flat, Wooragee and Bruarong Halls, and the Indigo Valley CFA.
These systems are linked by the electricity grid and the Ubi smart energy controller, and also the community energy retailer, Indigo Power. They form a series of small, distributed solar and battery installations that are contributing renewable power to the grid in and around Yackandandah.
Each on it’s own is not very large, but combined they contribute a significant amount to powering our town and act as a virtual power plant or VPP. This not only generates local clean energy, it also saves the volunteer committees significant operating costs. Celebrating the launch today were representatives from the hall committees, TRY, Selectronic and the mayor and CEO of Indigo Shire.
This project was made possible with inputs from the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, as well as TRY, Indigo Shire, Into Our Hands Foundation, various hall committees, YCDCo, Selectronic Australia, Indigo Power and the Yackandandah Folk Festival. Big support also from solar professionals, Solar Integrity.
25 September 2019
Kangaloola’s fantastic new battery system to benefit wildlife and volunteers.
We had a second little celebration today (a very quiet affair out at the Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter), to celebrate the completion of fundraising for and installing an upgraded system at the shelter. The new system doubles the size of the off-grid battery storage, from 16kWh to 32kWh, to meet the expanding demand associated with more wildlife carers!
At the launch attended by funding contributors, we learnt that the system now saves over $9000/year in generator fuel. They can also now run a water pressure pump and a mobile phone booster. And the gas-boosted solar hot water system has shifted consumption from one 45 kg gas bottle every 6 weeks, to 1 every 12 months.
An amazing outcome that benefits our local wildlife and the dedicated volunteers who care for them.
Thanks to YCDCo, YCC, Solar Integrity and Indigo Speakers for their contributions.
6 September 2019
TRY’s new Power to Change video
TRY has documented some of the inspiring motivations and actions for our 100% target. Check out the following two videos which show how far we’ve come in 5 years.
What happens when a household (and a town) becomes conscious about energy? Welcome to Part A of a renewable energy makeover with Helen and Denis… filmed in 2015 and goodness how time travels so mighty quick.
The Power to Change video – Part A (link to come)
Beginning a home energy transformation
Four years later our town is well on the way with an ambitious renewable energy target. Catch up with Helen and Denis, and the village, on their creative transition to clean local power, and their desire to be part of a change for the world. Guest contributions from rock legend, Shane Howard.
The Power to Change video – Part B (link to come)
1 September 2019
TRY’s Energy Coaching service!
Keen to do more in your home to reduce your carbon footprint? Not sure where to start? Did you know that heating, cooling and water heating generally account for more than 60% of household energy consumption? Small changes in these areas can make a big difference.
To help understand what you can do, TRY is launching our new Energy Coaching service. Volunteer Energy Coaches will be available for one-on-one home visits to chat to you about options for reducing your energy consumption.
If you would like to know more about this service please check out the Energy Coaching page under Resources
30 August 2019
Public Hall solar and battery installation comes online
After 5 years of concerted effort, it’s happy days for the Yack Public Hall which now has 11 kW of solar PV, a premium SP Pro battery inverter, and 10 kWh of battery storage.
Huge thanks to the Victorian Government, the Yack Folk Festival, Indigo Shire, Selectronic Australia and the Hall Committee. With the award winning Solar Integrity employee, Luke Fraser, leading the awesome installation team.
This installation is part of our virtual power plant (VPP), connected via the Mondo Ubi smart energy controller. And what an awesome late winters day to start crafting home-grown power.
30 July 2019
Clean Energy Council (CEC) Awards
Mondo has won the CEC’s prestigious Community Engagement Award for their partnership with TRY. The award recognises the commitment of both parties in the pursuit of 100% clean renewable electricity. A significant milestone was reached in February this year when Yackandandah’s mini grid collectively generated 1GWh of renewable electricity. This accounts for approximately 25% of the town’s energy and represents $160,000+ in community energy cost savings.
Mondo thanks everyone in Yackandandah, particularly the those who have participated in the microgrids at both Yackandandah Heights on Racecourse Road and the Osbornes Flat/Ben Valley communities. Thanks also to the significant contribution of Solar Integrity, the partnering solar installer. Bobbi McKibbin from Solar Integrity, TRY’s Matthew Charles-Jones and former Independent Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, attended the CEC awards night (see photo).
AusNet Services also won the Clean Energy Council’s Innovation Award, recognising the nationally relevant ARENA-funded research by the University of New South Wales on the 14-household microgrid in Osbornes Flat/Ben Valley.
Congratulations to Mondo and AusNet Services, to Solar Integrity and a shout out to a massive range of people in Yack. TRY feels a little proud, humble and thankful. Action on clean energy with local people (and planet) at the heart!
16 July 2019
Energy efficient hot water!
Indigo Power and Totally Renewable Yackandandah are conducting a regional bulk buy or Shared Purchasing Program of two energy-efficient hot water systems: Reclaim CO2 heat pumps and Apricus evacuated tube solar systems. We have partnered with Solar Integrity, Reclaim and Apricus to offer a good price and use local tradespeople to do the installations.
With generous government rebates, it’s worth looking into and a key part of the push to 100% renewables. Come along to a local town hall meeting and find out more.
- When: Wednesday 17 July, 6:30pm
- Where: Yackandandah Courthouse, 4 William St.
The Bulk Buy offer is open until 18 October. For more info contact [email protected]
13 June 2019
BIG BATTERY FUND RAISER. CAN YACK DO IT!
Now more than ever, we need ambitious projects that tackle climate change and support community.
TRY IS FUNDRAISING TO BUILD AUSTRALIA’S FIRST EVER COMMUNITY-OWNED SOLAR AND BATTERY PROJECT.
We are working hard to make Australia’s first community-owned medium-scale battery a reality at the site of the old Yackandandah Saw Mill. The 250 kWh battery will be charged by the sun during the day, and will power up to 30 Yackandandah homes during the evening. But batteries are expensive, and the system will not pay for itself unless the cost of the battery is subsidised by $150,000.
The good news is that $40,000 has already been pledged (hooray!) Can you help us raise the rest?
The Into Our Hands Foundation has set-up a tax-deductible fund just for TRY members to donate to this project.
This battery will be the first of its kind, and perhaps our most important step yet toward a 100% Renewable Yack. Let’s dig deep to make it happen!
8 June 2019
Battery installed at the Yack CFA station
An upgrade of the Yackandandah CFA station has been ongoing for a while. The changes started with the installation of an energy efficient split system air-conditioner and LED lighting. In 2018 the inefficient electric hot water system (HWS) was replaced with a reliable bottled gas instantaneous unit to provide for the infrequent use of hot water. And now they have eighteen 335 W LG solar panels and a 13 kWh battery. The battery inverter allows the station to operate during outages. As it is a three-phase system, the site will still draw from the grid on the other two circuits during normal operations.
The upgrade reduces running costs, makes the CFA more resilient in times of emergency, and capable of off-grid functionality – a definite plus during a bushfire.
13 April 2019
Community solar at the Old Beechworth Gaol!
Today Indigo Power launched the first community-owned solar installation in north-east Victoria at the Old Beechworth Gaol.
Supplying 55% of the site’s electricity requirements and over $1000 in annual savings, clean energy is making a difference in our community!
Others at the launch included: Renewable Albury Wodonga – RAW Energy, Solar Integrity, Indigo Shire Council, Cathy McGowan MP (Independent Member for Indi), WIN News Albury, PRIME7 News Border, ABC Goulburn Murray, 9News Border North East, Mondo, and Totally Renewable Beechworth.
11 February 2019
1 GWh milestone!
Last week we celebrated a huge milestone, the generation of 1 GWh of hand-crafted local electrons. That’s the equivalent to taking 238 cars off the road for a year!
2018
17 October 2018
Third microgrid to be built at Yackandandah
Today Yackandandah is thrilled to learn of the Victorian Government’s support to build a third microgrid on the edge of town, funded by $380,000 from their ‘Microgrid Development Initiative.’ (read more in this one step off the grid article)
Many thanks to Jaclyn Symes, Member for Northern Victoria, for making the announcement, and to the many people across Yack joining with Mondo to reveal a new way of doing electricity.
The funding will support a $900,000 microgrid project, which will bolster individual efforts to save money and reduce carbon emissions, but will also work to improve electricity supply in a ‘constrained’ Single Wire Earth Return (SWER) line – the network equivalent of an extension cord draped across paddocks!!
4 October 2018
TRY partners, Solar Integrity, have taken out a Clean Energy Council award
Luke Fraser WON the National Clean Energy Council Award for Best Solar PV System Design & Installation (under 30kW, grid connect PV power system with battery backup). His system design demonstrates how residences connected to single wire earth return (SWER) lines, often in regional areas, can install larger solar systems. The award was announced and awarded at the Grand Networking Event hosted by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) in Melbourne last night as part of the All Energy Conference, Australia’s largest industry conference.
This award is testament to Luke Fraser’s passion for the industry and his level of quality workmanship. The award is shared by the Solar Integrity team, Mondo Power, AusNet Services, University of Technology Sydney, Totally Renewable Yackandandah and the amazing customers who trust Solar Integrity with their homes.
Luke (at left) is pictured with Bobbi McKibbin and Brett Emo from Solar Integrity.
3 October 2018
TRY’s story published in renew. magazine
In his endless wanderings to promote the work of TRY and the transition to 100% renewables, Matt Charles-Jones must have told the TRY story many times. Well, this time someone took note when he spoke at the Melbourne branch of Renew (formerly the Alternative Technology Association) and wrote it all down. Check out this article in renew. magazine (Issue 45, Oct 2018, pp.42) – it is a great overview of the incredible TRY journey.
1 September 2018
Microgrid renewables research trial to be extended in Yackandandah
Renewable energy is currently a hot topic both locally and at the state and national level. This week TRY, in partnership with AusNet Services and Mondo Power, is extending a nationally relevant microgrid research trial to all those people who already have Fronius Inverters AND Ubi Controllers.
The extended research trial builds on the commitment and innovation of 14 local households in Osbornes Flat and Ben Valley around Yackandandah.
Funded by ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency) and led by the University of Technology Sydney – and on the ground technical expertise from local company Solar Integrity – the project is at the forefront of thinking in the emergent clean electricity market.
Just how do renewable energy systems (coordinated solar, batteries and control systems) integrate into an electricity network designed for one-way transmission from the Latrobe Valley to the end user? And how can we harness this for electricity users – residents, business, industry, the government – and the planet?
It’s thrilling that Yack is at the positive and pointy end of a future orientated ‘distributed energy market place’. Our new electricity retailer ‘Indigo Power’ is a part of that market place. Stay tuned – there’s more to come!!
1 July 2018
Wildlife shelter battery charges up
A great result for the Yack locals caring for wildlife at the Kangaloola Wildlife Shelter. Kangaloola and its dedicated volunteers cares for orphaned, injured and abandoned wildlife. Located in the bush outside Yackandandah, it has no mains power and previously used a diesel generator for electricity, and LPG and a wood fire for their hot water. This meant a noisy and expensive energy supply.
Having installed solar panels and storage batteries, they have now ditched the previously constant hum of a generator. Surely a better healing environment for the animals!!
18 May 2018
Rural Councils of Victoria ‘Innovation Award’
Bit of excitement this week for TRY and the Yack community! We have been lucky enough to receive the Rural Councils of Victoria ‘Innovation Award’ for energy saving. Thanks to the organising committee, especially as the award came with a small cash contribution. Indigo Shire Mayor, Cr. Jenny O’Connor, accepted the award on TRY’s behalf at Lakes Entrance.
You can read more about it here on the SolarQuotes website.
