Indigo Shire - renewable energy mapping - Indigo Shire Council

Earth Systems
Suggested Priorities for Decision Making
Mapping and Brokering Local Energy Solutions in Indigo Shire
Reviewing the variety of resource potentials, generation costs and grid constraints presented in the
preceding sections, it is possible to make some general observations on how a total generation output of
13 MW e may be accomplished within the Indigo Shire region.
There is little economy of scale benefit in going larger within the range of generation considered,
other than for bioenergy plant. Therefore, generation scale is likely to be dictated by network
capacity (i.e. largest generator that can be connected without major network infrastructure costs).
There are significant economic benefits in generation resulting in avoided retail power purchase.
There are significant economic benefits in co-generation (possibly even tri-generation) at a given
site.
There may be additional incentives for installing site generation if it avoids the need for the
network operator to undertake other infrastructure upgrades.
Although the resource is marginal, the LCOE of wind means it is an attractive option..
Where substantial cooling loads are present, there may be additional economic benefit in
generating power from solar resources.
If the majority of the biomass is to be purpose-grown (energy crops), the same basic generation
equipment type can be used at all sites; and it may be advantageous to use a similar plant size
and/or supplier to achieve capital cost reductions (multiple units purchase via consortium).
Recommendations and Next Steps
Overall recommendations from the Phase 1 Study are as follows.
Solar
Wind
1. Maintain a watching brief on current technology costs, which are reducing rapidly.
2. Consider any immediate opportunities for solar PV generation of less than 100 kW e , which in
Victoria are currently eligible for a feed-in tariff (FIT) of 8 c/kWh (which for solar PV may not be
commercially viable).
3. Consider large-scale solar at specific sites where peak generation may be able to off-set large
peaking cooling loads (large refrigeration loads such as refrigerated distribution centre, large
winery or dairy).
1. Consider whether local information can identify any specific locations that would yield a better
resource (than currently mapped).
2. The Shire should also consider engagement opportunities with other regions in which wind
resources are more significant.
3. Keep a watching brief on low-speed turbine developments.
Geothermal
1. Re-consider only if new geothermal data becomes available.
Hydropower
1. Consider limited possibilities for small-scale hydropower generation (