This week the team visited two leading examples of energy backup systems in Monbulk and Healesville. The projects were completed through the Victorian Government’s Energy Resilience Solutions, supporting systems for essential services and community hubs. 

The key insights and lessons learned will be put into a 2-day training course on neighbourhood batteries in February 2025. Learn more and register here. 

Monbulk’s RSL has been transformed into a critical community hub during outages, where residents can come for a hot shower and to charge communication devices. In Monbulk, severe outages can last for several days and even the supply of diesel for backup generators is sometimes hard to find.  

Figure 1: Viewing the Monbulk RSL’s energy backup system.

The energy backup system has been welcomed by the community, but is still only one step towards greater energy resilience with communications and pumped sewerage infrastructure also key priorities for the town. 

Figure 2: Healesville High School energy backup system.

At Healesville High School the team met with Principal, Allan Rennick, who opened up the new energy backup system installed on school grounds. Designed within a modern black recycled shipping container, this installation has added capacity to the school’s operations – helping to lower bills – but also supports the wider community with the school’s basketball court and community centre also available to the public during emergencies.  

We were impressed to learn that the backup system has already been used for students’ education, a clear reminder how energy outcomes extend beyond just the transfer of energy. Building adaptive capacity to deal with outages and climate-driven events is important to both the Healesville and Monbulk communities, which received strong levels of community support for both installations. 

Thanks to the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action (DEECA), AusNet, and the local representatives for sharing their insights from these important projects improving energy resilience of their communities.