It is reported that Western Australia's utility Horizon Power plans to launch 13 solar power generation facilities and battery energy storage systems on 14 remote farms in the Esperance area.

The deployment of solar + energy storage projects is a cost-effective alternative to utilities that face the cost of retrofitting grids that serve remote farms.

While some local governments are still discussing how energy storage systems will change the outlook for power grids and utility companies, Western Australia is working to address this issue – deploying solar + energy storage projects to replace 54 kilometers of old electricity Lines and poles along the way.

The state government has announced that it will begin installing 13 micro-power systems (MPS) next month to power 14 farms in the Esperance area, one of which powers two farms.

The Micro Power System (MPS) consists of an independent solar power generation facility and a battery energy storage system that includes a backup diesel generator to prevent more power. In addition to replacing the aging grid infrastructure, this measure also reduces the risk of forest fires caused by lightning strikes and accidents related to the operation of agricultural machinery near power lines.

West Australian Energy Secretary Bill Johnston said: "These farms are located on the edge of the power grid east of Esperance and the Condoding area. The reliability is not high and it takes longer to recover after the power outage."

Power outage solution

These systems will be launched in the grid of Horizon Power, a utility of the Western Australian Government. According to the plan, users will pay the same electricity price as the traditional grid.

Due to the aging of power lines connected to the grid, many remote farms face high energy costs and unreliable power supplies, and local farmers want to use on-site power generation solutions. As a survey released by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia last year, 76% of Australian farmers expressed their desire to deploy solar + energy storage projects.

In Western Australia, the deployment of independent power systems seems to be increasingly popular. Just two weeks ago, regional utility Western Power announced plans to launch 57 independent power systems on farms, signing a $8.8 million (US$6.91 million) contract for the first off-grid project for its regional real estate. stage.

Western Power said that servicing 57 independent power systems would cost $6 million less than the cost of retrofitting traditional grids. Horizon Power has not yet released such a cost savings assessment program for its Micro Power System (MPS).

Mark Paterson, General Manager of Consumer Energy at Horizon Power, said: "The original 50-kilometer power line will be exposed to various hazards such as tree fall, lightning strikes, high winds and agricultural accidents. Therefore, it is located east of Esperance and in the Condingup area. Customers will face long power outages, which may take a long time to recover. Experience has shown that customers want to use a Micro Power System (MPS) solution because they can provide safe and reliable power day after day."

Perth-based CPS National will deliver and install these solar + energy storage projects, which will be operational this year.