Moama Bowling Club Microgrid

Project

Moama Bowling Club Microgrid

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Location

Shaw Street, Moama NSW

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Commenced

November 2020

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Pre-existing Issues

Moama Bowling Club (MBC) was facing a number of issues regarding the supply, cost and procurement of their electricity. Management was seeking a comprehensive solution to the following problems

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• high and ever increasing electricity charges

• high cost of delivery to its fringe of grid location

• uncertain supply - network outage issues

• positive environmental impact

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Solution

VCE conducted a feasibility study for MBC to determine the most appropriate solution to their problems. The findings were documented in a report and presented to Management, proposing a microgrid as the appropriate solution, which was accepted.

Stage 1 construction of the carport shade structure with roof mounted solar, commenced in November 2020.

As management was looking to upgrade the Club's carpark, it was decided that VCE would design and construct a visually impactful shade structure over the carpark, on which solar panels will be mounted on the roof. This will serve multiple benefits, providing security and comfort for their members,  enhancing the aesthetic appeal and value of the Club. Importantly, the energy generated from the solar panels on roof of the carport would feed into the microgrid, to provide electricity for the Club.

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Specifications

The 503.58 kWp  carpark and rooftop mounted solar photovoltaic facility to be developed at MBC comprises

• 338.58 kWp carpark mounted solar and 165 kWp rooftop mounted solar, including the panels, inverters, mounts, interconnection lines, electrical substations, transformers, switchgear and protective devices

• 2,150.4 kWh +/- 5% battery energy storage system

• 750 kVA power converter

• 2 x 50kW and 2 x 22kW EV charging stations

• New microgrid Switchboard

• Integration of the existing 840 kVA Diesel generator, which will operate as a grid synchronous energy generator within the microgrid, microgrid controller, weather station, CCTV, SCADA and O&M operational platform and communications platform

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Project Status

The microgrid that VCE is developing for MBC is the second project for the NSW Clubs industry. Also the second Club in VCE's Clean Energy for Clubs Programme, VCE continues to develop and implement smart technologies for Clubs and resolve their electricity issues.

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MBC will be registered with the Australian Energy Regulator and Clean Energy Regulator as a provider of renewable electricity, it will make them one of the first NSW clubs to become a renewable  energy producer to the national electricity market.

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Management at MBC is excited about this and George Santos, Sales and Marketing Manager said, in an article published by the Riverine Herald on 13 November 2020, "This is a project which ticks the economic box, the environmental box and (when things go wrong in the main power grid) more criticality, no lights off at Moama Bowling Club.”

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Scroll through our picture gallery to see construction in progress. Installation of solar panels on the carport structure of the carpark is currently underway, commencing March 2021