Microgrids may be vital to Australia's energy transition

Australia, once reliant on a centralised energy system, now stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the need for reliable, sustainable and affordable energy solutions.

At All-Energy Australia 2023, David Desfosses, Smart Grid Solutions Lead at Tractebel ENGIE in Frankfurt, Germany, will share his insights on the transformative power of microgrids in resolving the nation’s energy trilemma.

Defossess is an advocate for a decentralised energy system, emphasising the pivotal role of microgrids in the transition. He is originally from Melbourne but is working and living in Germany.

Microgrids are a crucial means of integrating renewables and storage locally. With the increase of distributed energy resources such as solar PV, microgrids will negate the need to undertake upgrades to transmission lines and substations.

For grid utilities, microgrids provide a buffer against peaks in energy demand, alleviating pressure on the network, minimising unmanageable energy load and reducing power outages. In severe weather such as storms and bushfires, microgrids can be vital in providing energy.

On Day One of All-Energy Australia, Desfosses will present on how Australia’s reliance on coal-fired generation has created a carbon lock-in effect, hindering the nation’s progress towards renewable energy.

Employing the Multi-Level Perspective framework, Desfosses will examine the critical junctions within Australia where this lock-in effect can be dismantled. His analysis underscores the influence of government, utilities and energy communities in steering the transition, emphasising the rise of microgrids as a beacon of hope.

According to Desfosses, Microgrids can meet energy demand and add flexibility to control and optimise distributed energy resources and storage.

“The ability to switch between grid-connected and islanded modes of operation provides a safe and secure way to deal with network faults and when there are storms and bushfires that will affect existing transmission network,” Desfosses said.

Using renewables close to the source can help reduce infrastructure costs, overall contributing to the reduction of electricity costs.

For Desfosses and Tractebel ENGIE, All-Energy Australia is a platform to enact change. The company has already made substantial strides in Australia, with projects like Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the Yuri Hydrogen Plant.

At the conference, Desfosses will showcase Tractebel’s solutions, providing answers to the challenges posed by the energy trilemma.

“All-Energy Australia provides a unique platform for me at Tractebel, given this is the most diverse gathering within the Australian energy sector, to demonstrate the challenges and opportunities experienced in regions that have similar characteristics to Australia to enable a more efficient and rapid approach to the energy management of increasing renewables and storage within Australia’s electricity network,” he said.

Desfosses will appear at All-Energy Australia on Day One in Room 210, Wednesday, 25 October starting at 3.30 pm.

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