Horizon Power is supporting the State Government's commitment to reduce public sector emissions by 80% by 2030 and to become net zero by 2050. To achieve this goal, we’re prioritising towns that emit the highest levels of carbon emissions (CO₂) and are powered primarily by fossil fuelled generators using gas and diesel.

In Horizon Power’s service area across regional and remote WA, Derby produces about 16,000 tons of CO₂ per annum which is equivalent to 2% of Horizon Power’s total emissions (2020 Baseline Emission).

Planning for a new energy system is complex and takes time. The energy generation solution also needs to be tailored to each town, so it’s important that we start engaging with local communities early.

Through the deployment of Smart Connect Solar, underpinned by the Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), the community can install rooftop solar. Since Smart Connect Solar was launched in Derby in February 2024 there has been 647kW of rooftop solar generation installed, representing almost 6.5% of the town's renewable energy capacity. 

Communities are at the heart of our Future Energy System planning framework, and all members of the community are invited to provide their feedback.

A decarbonisation solution looks at cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind generation, coupled with battery energy storage solutions and consideration must be made to ensure the products are technologically and commercially readily available. In the initial stages of the project, we’ll assess which of these generation types are most viable for the Derby community’s energy requirements.  

As we progress the solution design for the future energy system, the technical considerations and economic viability may mean that some generation types cannot be part of the final solution. For example, wind is no longer an option for Derby's future energy system

Community engagement helps us understand each town’s appetite for renewable energy, and feedback will inform the final solution. It’s important to note that while the new system may reduce reliance on fossil fuels, thermal generation may still play a role in meeting demand and supporting reliability during periods of low renewable generation or other challenging conditions.

Planning for a future energy system is complex and takes time and community engagement to gather opinions and thoughts. If the recommended system is approved for delivery, construction would likely commence in 2028.  

We have considered hydrogen on several recent projects and will continue to explore hydrogen as a viable future energy solution. At the current time:  

• It is too costly to produce hydrogen onsite for use
• There are no reliable suppliers to deliver hydrogen as a fuel source.  

As part of this development phase, we have submitted referrals to the WA Environmental Protection Authority and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to support an early understanding of the feasibility of a potential project location.

An EPA Assessment decision for one Derby site can be found here: Derby Future Energy System | EPA Western Australia

A DCCEEW referral link for two proposed sites is pending. Link to be advised.

Submitting the project for assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority is an early and standard part of our due diligence process. It does not determine the final design or location of the project, which will be shaped through ongoing consultation with local communities and stakeholders.

Horizon Power is constantly searching for new and innovative technologies that can assist us and our customers to decarbonise our energy future. We regularly meet with wind farm, wave, tidal and solar energy generation technology providers as well as exploring new and emerging storage technologies.

We are currently engaged in technology trials for three different types of Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and Vehicle to Grid (V2G) to provide our customers with more options to use renewable energy.

We are interested potential trials of emerging generation technologies (such as wave or tidal), but our expectation for the foreseeable future is that these technologies will not be commercially competitive with solar and onshore wind.

Horizon Power is also undertaking a market testing exercise and seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced organisations interested in entering into a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The proponents are free to propose low-carbon technologies of their choosing.