ARENA-backed project to boost solar hybrid uptake in outback

A new project has been launched in the Northern Territory that will help boost the use of solar-diesel hybrid generation to power remote off-grid communities.

The Northern Territory Power and Water Corporation (PWC) has released a handbook and modelling software package, developed through a research project in Daly River, NT, and supported by $460,000 funding from the federal government renewable energy fund, ARENA.

The software, which was developed to evaluate the technical and financial performance of solar-diesel systems, together with the handbook, aim to provide increased investment certainty and offer a head start with power system planning and design. Off-grid generation is one of the major targets of ARENA’s funding priorities.

“Many remote Australian communities rely on diesel generators that are expensive to run, with costs hard to forecast due to the volatility of fuel prices,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Fischknecht.

“Sharing the knowledge generated from this research is a vital step in delivering cost- effective renewable energy technologies to off-grid communities across Australia.

“By presenting the many advantages of solar/diesel hybrid systems, these new resources will open the door to a more diverse energy mix for off-grid communities as well as large scale mining operations.”

PWC’s Remote Operations General Manager Jim Bamber said the project reflected a commitment to delivering cost-effective, reliable and safe electricity services to remote Indigenous communities.

“Through our eight solar/diesel mini-grids we are currently supplying power to 11 communities and we look forward to delivering further innovation in this area,” Bamber said.