Solar array at a Boundary Power R-Series SAPS installation. Image: Boundary Power
The government of Western Australia has begun a drive to deploy at least 1,000 renewable energy off-grid power systems aimed at bringing resilient electricity supplies to communities and customers.
Called standalone power systems (SAPS), the technology combines equipment including battery storage and solar PV. The state government today announced its rollout will commence with 180 installations and a funding commitment of A$37 million (US$25.63 million) for the distributed resources.
While SAPS are growing in popularity in Australia, particularly in rural areas, the Western Australian push is thought to be the largest initiative of its type in the country to date.
Rather than stretching power lines over long distances, customers can use on-site generated power and are likely to experience far fewer outages – up to 90% fewer, in some cases – according to Western Power, the state-owned energy company which will administer the programme.
They also reduce emissions associated with electricity production and use, enabling nearly all of the site’s demand to be met with solar PV. Systems will often have generators too, but purely as backup.
WA energy minister Bill Johnston said the government will seek to deploy its 1,000 systems over the next four years.
Johnston also said installation will create 90 jobs, including 15 apprentice positions, as well as supporting local businesses which will manufacture, install and commission the units.
Energy-Storage.news spoke today with one of the companies selected to provide the SAPS, Boundary Power. Boundary Power is a joint venture between another state-owned energy company, Horizon Power and electrical engineering company Ampcontrol, set up to focus on the SAPS market.
Boundary Power will provide 101 of the SAPS units, while green energy installer Hybrid Systems Australia will deliver the remaining 79.
Boundary Power’s modular R-Series brand SAPS solution will be used at the sites, a representative told Energy-Storage.news today. The sizing and capacity of batteries and generation equipment will vary at each site to some extent, based on customer requirements, the representative said.
At this stage, Boundary Power said it couldn’t yet provide specific information on the sizing and duration of battery systems.
However, for a general idea, the R-Series spec sheets show that the systems range from 10kVA systems using 7.92kW solar arrays with 6kW solar inverter, coupled with 16kW battery inverter and 16.8kWh battery capacity up to 31.68kW solar arrays with 24kW solar and battery inverters, and 67.2kWh battery energy storage on the 25kVA models, with sizes and capacities in between.
The systems are tested within Boundary Power’s workshop before being taken to the field
According to Western Power, the process of installing SAPS begins with assessments of the customers load and energy usage patterns, to which their new off-grid solution is then designed to match.
The initial rollout seeks to replace reliance on about 762km of overhead power lines, in the process freeing up land for agricultural use and crucially reducing the risk of bushfires caused by problems with power infrastructure going to remote areas.
Systems will be deployed in WA’s south-west, eastern and north-west regions.
Elsewhere in the state, the government said in announcing its annual budget earlier this month that it has committed to closing its two remaining state-owned coal power plants by 2030 and will invest A$3.8 billion into a transition plan, including the installation of large-scale battery storage.
While SAPS are growing in popularity in Australia, particularly in rural areas, the Western Australian push is thought to be the largest initiative of its type in the country to date.
Rather than stretching power lines over long distances, customers can use on-site generated power and are likely to experience far fewer outages – up to 90% fewer, in some cases – according to Western Power, the state-owned energy company which will administer the programme.
They also reduce emissions associated with electricity production and use, enabling nearly all of the site’s demand to be met with solar PV. Systems will often have generators too, but purely as backup.
WA energy minister Bill Johnston said the government will seek to deploy its 1,000 systems over the next four years.
Johnston also said installation will create 90 jobs, including 15 apprentice positions, as well as supporting local businesses which will manufacture, install and commission the units.
Energy-Storage.news spoke today with one of the companies selected to provide the SAPS, Boundary Power. Boundary Power is a joint venture between another state-owned energy company, Horizon Power and electrical engineering company Ampcontrol, set up to focus on the SAPS market.
Boundary Power will provide 101 of the SAPS units, while green energy installer Hybrid Systems Australia will deliver the remaining 79.
Boundary Power’s modular R-Series brand SAPS solution will be used at the sites, a representative told Energy-Storage.news today. The sizing and capacity of batteries and generation equipment will vary at each site to some extent, based on customer requirements, the representative said.
At this stage, Boundary Power said it couldn’t yet provide specific information on the sizing and duration of battery systems.
However, for a general idea, the R-Series spec sheets show that the systems range from 10kVA systems using 7.92kW solar arrays with 6kW solar inverter, coupled with 16kW battery inverter and 16.8kWh battery capacity up to 31.68kW solar arrays with 24kW solar and battery inverters, and 67.2kWh battery energy storage on the 25kVA models, with sizes and capacities in between.
The systems are tested within Boundary Power’s workshop before being taken to the field
According to Western Power, the process of installing SAPS begins with assessments of the customers load and energy usage patterns, to which their new off-grid solution is then designed to match.
The initial rollout seeks to replace reliance on about 762km of overhead power lines, in the process freeing up land for agricultural use and crucially reducing the risk of bushfires caused by problems with power infrastructure going to remote areas.
Systems will be deployed in WA’s south-west, eastern and north-west regions.
Elsewhere in the state, the government said in announcing its annual budget earlier this month that it has committed to closing its two remaining state-owned coal power plants by 2030 and will invest A$3.8 billion into a transition plan, including the installation of large-scale battery storage.
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