Modelling the Potential Benefits of Public Housing Community Focussed Solar Microgrid

Using the Wainuiomata papakāinga development, we will model the practicalities of a small solar micro-grid of independent households sharing one network connection to the national electrical grid. The model will be based on semi-mature technologies of roof-top solar and on-site storage. Along with this, we will model practical protocols for energy sharing among the households to maximise appropriate on-site usage and storage, and an equitable billing regime for households of different sizes and demographics.

We will build in-depth knowledge on implementing a community micro-grid and the parties and relationships involved.  Using this approach, we will identify where the tensions lie between optimising outcomes at multiple levels: the national (grid), local network, community level, and household member (health) level. With this information, we will examine the benefits, opportunities and risks for renewable energy (RE) and the generation, use and conservation in similar communities elsewhere in Aotearoa, NZ. Depending on the timing of the building of Wainuiomata papakāinga housing, we may utilise knowledge from other micro-grid developments.

Project lead: Mark Apperley