As natural & climate related disasters become a frequent reality in Australia, local energy solutions like microgrids could help ensure that regional communities don’t run out of critical energy by making the best use of locally generated renewables.
Project summary
As Australia braces for more frequent extreme environmental events such as recent East Coast bushfires and catastrophic floods, local energy solutions such as microgrids could help ensure that regional communities don’t run out of critical energy when the next disaster strikes. Energy microgrids have traditionally been deployed around the world in places where supplying power from the main grid is too expensive or difficult. However, the technologies used to develop microgrids can also improve resilience by providing a reliable, clean, and affordable supply of energy in areas prone to natural and climate related disasters.
Researchers from UTS’s Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) have looked at examples from overseas including the recent wildfires in the US and Greece, earthquakes in New Zealand and cyclones in India. Global evidence indicates that microgrids can help communities withstand disasters. The study highlights the benefits of renewable energy microgrids helping communities to transition to more local renewable energy supply, and in the process become more climate resilient. Critical success factors include the need for extensive community engagement, cooperation from electricity network corporations, and multi-level planning from all levels of government. This is the only way to ensure the delivery of affordable and clean energy to all community stakeholders.
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Project timeframe
2022 – 2026
SDG targets addressed by this project
Affordable and clean energy:
7.1 - By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
7.2 - By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Sustainable cities and communities:
11.5 - By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
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Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Futures -
Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures
