<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/remote-goldfields-town-goes-green-with-deal-to-build-solar-and-battery-microgrid/>
"The remote mining town of Leonora in the Goldfields region of Western
Australia is to source 60 per cent of its power needs from solar and a battery
after a long term power purchase deal was signed this week.
Perth based off-grid power specialists Pacific Energy has signed the new
20-year PPA with Horizon Power to deliver a new hybrid renewables power system
that will comprise a 2.4 megawatt (MW) solar farm, a 9.9 megawatt-hour (MWh)
energy shifting battery energy storage system (BESS), and 2.7 MW of diesel
generation.
The hybrid system will be capable of delivering approximately 60 per cent of
the town’s forecast energy demand from solar, some of it stored in the battery.
Pacific Energy says that is a big deal.
“Achieving 60% renewable energy penetration in a remote town like Leonora
demonstrates what’s possible when smart technology meets a strong commitment to
decarbonisation,” said Mike Hall, Pacific Energy CEO.
“Leonora plays an important role in supporting the broader gold mining region,
and this new power solution strengthens our footprint in the Northeastern
Goldfields.
“It’s a smart, scalable system that reflects our long-term commitment to
powering the communities and industries that drive Western Australia’s
economy.”
The new hybrid system, which is expected to begin construction in April 2026
and be completed by the first quarter of 2027, will be co-located at a
dedicated site near Leonora’s airport and will supply the town’s total power
supply from 2027.
The system will be owned and operated by Pacific Energy for Horizon Power,
similar to 10 other hybrid systems the company is operating for Horizon Power
across regional Western Australia."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
