The purpose of this site is to offer a dedicated space to hold information relevant to Central Australia’s strong renewable energy history, and its transition towards a renewable energy future. The materials are hosted by the Intyalheme Centre for Future Energy in the spirit of knowledge sharing and transparency.
The Alice Springs Future Grid Knowledge Bank aims to provide access to documents and information, both historical and contemporary. By building on lessons from the past, we can work towards a renewable energy future for the Northern Territory. Preserving knowledge can also help to mitigate the effects of corporate memory loss caused by population transience — a widely acknowledged challenge for the NT.
Project outputs from Alice Springs Future Grid can be viewed by choosing “Future Grid publication” in the document type dropdown menu.
Intyalheme welcomes feedback, but accepts no responsibility for the content supported by the Knowledge Bank. Intyalheme is careful to work within copyright laws. Please don’t hesitate to bring to our attention any unintentional/possible breaches.
Intyalheme invites ideas for further documents that are relevant to renewable energy in Central Australia. Please get in touch with your suggestions.
Public Housing Solar Battery Trial: Data Analysis
2024
Data analysis from 15 weeks of performance data from the Public Housing Solar Battery Trial. Results show that the installed solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) performed as expected, with some differences between homes due to different panel shading and orientation.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Virtual Power Point Trial: Data Snapshot
2024
Data from the Virtual Power Point trial in Alice Springs across 2022-2023, from 47 sites with photovoltaic cells (solar panels) and some with battery systems.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Alice Springs Future Grid: Final Report
2024
The purpose of this report is to provide a succinct overview of the Alice Springs Future Grid, through the lens of the five different sub-projects – what they did, what they achieved, the challenges and barriers they encountered, and what was learnt.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Residential Inverter Testing for C‑FCAS Capability
2024
As part of the trial of a Virtual Power Plant, we worked with Charles Darwin University (CDU) to test the degree to which residential inverters can provide contingency frequency control ancillary services (C-FCAS) to maintain the frequency within the normal operating range of 50 Hz. The response of the inverters was examined when the grid frequency went beyond the normal operating frequency band an when the frequency deviated more than ± 0.6 Hz from the standard operating frequency of 50 Hz.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Lessons learnt from the Public Housing Solar and Battery Trial
2024
The Public Housing Solar and Battery Trial saw the installation of rooftop solar panels and battery energy storage systems (BESS) at 15 public housing homes in Alice Springs. Working with a range of partners, it looked at the barriers and solutions to integrating renewables into public housing, aiming to inform future solar projects of this kind across the NT and Australia.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Lessons learnt from the Solar Connect Virtual Power Plant Trial
2024
A Virtual Power Plant is a collection of solar and battery storage systems that work together to allow coordinated control of energy to benefit all. The Solar Connect VPP trial, part of Sub-project 4 and managed by Jacana Energy, was the first of its kind in the NT and connected 48 participants.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Regulatory Framework for Commercial Microgrids on Regulated NT Networks
Apr 2024
This report is based on observations from the first ever installation of a commercial, ‘islandable’ microgrid in Alice Springs at the Desert Knowledge Precinct. The installation has provided key data on the potential benefits and constraints of integrating a microgrid based on solar PV and a battery energy storage system (BESS) on to a constrained, regulated, power network. It highlights how the current system, regulation framework and associated connection process may need to change to more easily integrate private microgrids.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Alice Springs can lead on energy transformation, but urgent investment needed: Roadmap Report
Mar 2024
Alice Springs is leading the way on energy transition with today’s release of detailed plans on how to adapt an electricity grid for a renewables-dominated future. The landmark Alice Springs Roadmap to 2030 report explores the challenges the Alice Springs energy system faces, providing four possible pathways to achieving the 50% renewable energy target by 2030. It highlights the opportunity for Alice Springs to continue to lead in this space, providing Australia and the world with a ‘postcard from the future’ on how power systems can be transformed to make way for higher levels of renewables.
Type: Media release Format: PDF
Techno-Economic Modelling Report
Mar 2024
This report details the results of Ekistica’s techno-economic modelling work. This work guided some of the thinking behind the Roadmap to 2030. It includes analysis of the existing power system infrastructure and looks at likely challenges that could emerge during a transition, among other considerations.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF Excel
Alice Springs Roadmap to 2030
Mar 2024
The Roadmap to 2030 is the product of three years of trials and research carried out by multiple project partners. It pulls together insights from the Alice Springs Future Grid sub-projects and lays out four pathways to achieving 50% renewable generation by 2030.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Lessons Learnt: Community Engagement
CSIRO , Arid Lands Environment Centre , Alice Springs Future Grid
2024
This Lessons Learnt report presents findings from sub-project 3 in community engagement on the Alice Springs Future Grid, with a focus on the Solar Connect VPP.
Type: Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Wind Resource Monitoring Trial Technical Report #2
2023
This report provides information on the wind resource in Alice Springs and its potential use as an electricity resource.
Type: Report Future Grid publication Format: PDF
Alice Springs Future Grid Roadmap to 2030 — Presentation Hosted by CSIRO
CSIRO
2023
The Alice Springs Roadmap to 2030 Report, Roadmap to 2030 is a capstone project of the Alice Springs Future Grid and is designed to help diverse stakeholders understand the need for change and explore different ways the transition may occur. Without seeking to ‘predict’ the future, the Roadmap sets out pathways for achieving 50% renewable generation by 2030 and the recommended phases which are resilient across the most plausible future developments. Hear a presentation about the Roadmap.
Type: Presentation Format: Video
ALL EYES ON ALICE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
Territory Q
2023
All Eyes on Alice for Renewable Energy In a rapidly changing technical environment, it can be hard to distil what the Energy Future will hold, but one thing is for sure, we are in the middle of an energy revolution.
Type: Media coverage Format: URL
Alice Springs public housing solar trial kicks off
Northern Territory Government
May 2023
Fifteen Alice Springs households are taking part in a new public housing solar and battery trial.
Type: Media release Format: URL
Solar Connect VPP launched
Northern Territory Government , Alice Springs Future Grid
Oct 2022
The Alice Springs Future Grid project is proud to announce that operation of the Solar Connect Virtual Power Plant (VPP) is underway. It is the first VPP in the Northern Territory. Click through for Ministerial media release (Ministers Uibo and Paech) and project release.
Type: Media release Format: PDF URL
Alice Springs Future Grid: lessons for the NEM of tomorrow
Alice Springs Future Grid
Sep 2022
Energy Magazine feature on the Alice Springs Future Grid project, written by Future Grid communications officer Andrea Johnston.
Type: Media coverage Format: URL
Desert Knowledge Precinct to welcome large-scale battery for innovative trial
Alice Springs Future Grid
Jun 2022
The Alice Springs Future Grid project is procuring a 300kW/358kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) which will facilitate the transformation of the Desert Knowledge Precinct into a local microgrid.
Type: Media release Format: PDF
Energy Management Technology vendor appointed to deliver NT’s first Virtual Power Plant
Alice Springs Future Grid , SwitchDin
Jun 2022
Alice Springs Future Grid has appointed SwitchDin to deliver the technology that links solar and battery systems across Alice Springs, creating the Solar Connect Virtual Power Plant (VPP). The Solar Connect VPP provides an opportunity for the community to be involved in one of Future grid’s innovative trials.
Type: Media release Format: PDF
Media Release: Residential Inverter Trial at CDU technical facility
Charles Darwin University , Alice Springs Future Grid
May 2022
The Alice Springs Future Grid project has teamed up with Charles Darwin University (CDU) to test the capacity of battery and solar inverters to provide support services to the electricity grid. Testing will be undertaken at CDU’s Renewable Energy Microgrid Hub for Applied Research and Training (REMHART) in Darwin The primary technology tested will be three residential inverters – the devices that convert energy generated from solar panels and batteries into electricity suitable for use in the grid.
Type: Media release Format: PDF
Territory Q: Alice Drives Future Grid
Territory Q
Apr 2022
A feature in Northern territory business and industry publication, Territory Q, outlining how the Alice Springs community’s embrace of renewable energy has driven the urgent need to prepare for a clean energy future. Published in Q2, 2022. Picture courtesy of Chloe Erlich/Territory Q.
Type: Media coverage Format: PDF URL
Advitech appointed to conduct low socio-economic study
Advitech
Apr 2022
Engineering and environmental consulting firm Advitech has been appointed by the Alice Springs Future Grid project to investigate how lower socio-economic demographics can participate in and benefit from the transition to clean energy.
Type: Media release Format: URL
Fact Sheet: Time to install a battery?
Arid Lands Environment Centre , Alice Springs Future Grid
2022
If you are considering adding a battery to an existing solar system, or as part of a new solar installation. You may be wondering if the cost is worth it? This fact sheet, produced by Future Grid's Community Engagement Partner, the Arid Lands Environment Centre, provides a short guide to some of the factors you may want to consider when investing in a battery.
Type: Future Grid publication Fact Sheets Format: PDF
Fact Sheet: Upgrading an ageing solar system
Arid Lands Environment Centre , Alice Springs Future Grid
2022
There are many reasons to consider upgrading an ageing solar system - particularly if your system was installed more than 10 years ago. This fact sheet, produced by Future Grid's Community Engagement Partner, the Arid Lands Environment Centre, covers some factors to consider including system size and age, metering arrangements, feed-in tariffs and other rebates.
Type: Future Grid publication Fact Sheets Format: PDF
Solar Connect webinar
Arid Lands Environment Centre , Alice Springs Future Grid , Jacana Energy
Feb 2022
The Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) hosted a webinar about the Solar Connect VPP trial, including talks from Alice Springs Future Grid Project Manager Hannah Farrow, and sub-project leads Hayley Michener (ALEC) and Perrine Orlandini (Jacana Energy).
Type: Event details Format: URL