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Australian Renewable-Energy Microgrids: A Humble Past, a Turbulent Present, a Propitious Future

Author

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  • Simon Wright

    (Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia)

  • Mark Frost

    (School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia)

  • Alfred Wong

    (School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia)

  • Kevin A. Parton

    (School of Business, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia)

Abstract

As the global energy market undergoes a wholesale transformation accelerated by the need to decarbonise, a rapid transition to renewable energy and the mass deployment of distributed energy resources, autonomous energy networks or microgrids are emerging as an attractive mechanism for the delivery of electricity to end users. Yet in Australia, at least, relatively little is known about key aspects of microgrids that are fundamental to their successful deployment, not least the more commercial and economic elements rather than the purely technical. Drawing on the extant global literature on microgrids, in this paper, we explore the most important of these aspects including business models, ownership and investment. Identifying the ambiguity, inconsistency and uncertainty evident in many of the feasibility studies currently in train across Australia, in this paper, we highlight specific areas for future research. These research areas must be addressed if the full potential of microgrids is to be realised in the context of a global energy transition both domestically and internationally.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Wright & Mark Frost & Alfred Wong & Kevin A. Parton, 2022. "Australian Renewable-Energy Microgrids: A Humble Past, a Turbulent Present, a Propitious Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2585-:d:756776
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Marcelino, C.G. & Leite, G.M.C. & Wanner, E.F. & Jiménez-Fernández, S. & Salcedo-Sanz, S., 2023. "Evaluating the use of a Net-Metering mechanism in microgrids to reduce power generation costs with a swarm-intelligent algorithm," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).

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