Onslow Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Project
The Onslow DER Project will connect traditional energy sources with distributed solar and battery solutions, to maximise the amount of renewable energy in Onslow.
Onslow is set to be the home of Australia's largest distributed energy resource (DER) microgrid which will target a high penetration of the town's electricity needs to be serviced from renewable energy sources.
The microgrid will include a mix of distributed renewables, modular gas powered generation and battery storage aimed at achieving a high level of renewable energy throughout the town.
Stage Two
Stage Two commenced in October 2018, involves additional centralised infrastructure construction combined with distributed solar PV and batteries:
- A solar farm adjacent the new power station
- A battery energy storage system at the zone substation
- Distributed solar PV systems across the system
- Distributed batteries across the system.
Solar Farm and Battery Energy Storage system (BESS)
Construction of the Stage 2 centralised infrastructure is now completed with the 1 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located at the zone substation being energised onto the Onslow network in May 2019. The Solar Farm located adjacent to the power station was energised in June 2019.
Horizon Power have now entered into a 60 day reliability period with CPS National for the Solar Farm and Contract Power Group for the BESS. Completion of the reliability period is expected in September 2019.
Onslow Renewable Energy Pilot
Key dates
Date |
Activity |
September 2016 |
|
January 2017 |
Contract for construction of modular power station awarded to Downer EDI Engineering and Power Pty Ltd. |
January 2017 |
|
March 2017 |
Work begins on backbone power infrastructure. |
April 2017 |
Ground clearing and relocation of fauna. |
September 2017 |
Equipment including transmission lines arrive on site. |
June 2018 |
|
July 2018 |
Power station commissioned. |
July 2018 |
|
Late-2018 |
Construction to begin on renewable energy component including solar farm and battery storage. |
March 2019 |
|
March 2019 |
Renewable Energy Pilot launches to Onslow customers. |
May 2019 |
Construction of a centralised 1 megawatt solar farm and 1 megawatt-hour network battery complete. |
September 2019 |
Completion of solar farm and battery reliability period. |
September 2019 |
Onslow Renewable Energy Pilot |
December 2019 |