New power stations at Marble Bar and Nullagine
Horizon Power has established a new power station in the town of Marble Bar, with one soon to be completed in the neighbouring town Nullagine, in the east Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The power stations are the first high penetration, hybrid solar-diesel power stations in the world. They will set new benchmarks for hybrid, stand alone systems, with extremely high renewable energy generation and conversion.
Horizon Power is working with development partners PowerCorp Pty Ltd and Sunpower Australia to build the new power stations.
The project includes the installation more than 2000 solar panels across both towns and incorporates solar tracking systems that follow the path of the sun in each town throughout the day. The ground-mounted systems are the largest of their kind in Australia.
The latest energy storage technology is also being used to store energy from the solar panels and to stabilise power quality between the diesel power station and the solar farm.
The solar energy systems will generate over 1048 MWh of renewable energy per annum, supplying 30 per cent of the annual energy for both towns, up to 60 per cent of day-time energy, resulting in savings of 405,000 litres of fuel and 1100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
The project replaces ageing power stations with modern, efficient and more environmentally-friendly power stations that significantly quieter, and able to meet the energy needs of local communities for the next twenty years.
Construction work commenced at both sites in October 2009. Horizon Power commissioned the Marble Bar station in May 2010 and the Nullagine station is planned for commissioning in August 2010.
Project Update - September 2009
Solar energy information for children - September 2009
Project Information - January 2009