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The Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Program (the Program) aims to support pilot projects for microgrids in Regional Australia that:

• Have demonstrated Project viability through a Feasibility Study.
• Include the deployment of equipment and technology solutions that enable the coordinated use of distributed renewable energy technologies and the microgrid demonstration.
• Demonstrate improved resilience and reliability of microgrids in regional areas; and
• Demonstrate capability of resolving one or more of the remaining barriers to final investment and full deployment of microgrid solutions.

For the purposes of the Program the term microgrid is used to include the following technical configurations:

• Embedded Microgrid: An electricity supply arrangement that coordinates and optimises the use of connected, locationally proximate distributed energy resources (DER) to provide secure and reliable electricity within the microgrid and is able to provide value to the major grid. This could include energy market participation, provision of system flexibility, systems services and deferral of network investment.
• Standalone Power Systems (SAPS): An electricity supply arrangement that can demonstrate temporary or permanent operation when not physically connected to a major grid. SAPS encompasses supply to single and multiple customers. Where:
  • customers, currently connected to a major grid, can move to a SAPS, or
  • a SAPS is installed rather than a new grid connection.
• Remote Isolated Microgrid: An electricity supply arrangement that already operates as an isolated SAPS and will continue to do so. These systems are often in very remote locations and managed by State Government owned corporations.

ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program supports a broad range of development, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment projects that can deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy for Australian families and businesses.

The program’s objective is to fund activities that contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

• reduction in the cost of renewable energy
• increase in the value delivered by renewable energy
• improvement in technology readiness and commercial readiness of renewable energy
• reduction in or removal of barriers to renewable energy uptake
• increased skills, capacity and knowledge relevant to renewable energy

This fund is open to applications for all activities identified in the ARENA Investment Plan, except the competitive rounds. Applications for the competitive activities are accepted during competitive rounds.