Australian Air Force goes solar with battery storage for its NT facility

An Air Force facility located in Australia’s Northern Territory is set to go green through integration of hybrid solar and powerful battery storage microgrid to be installed by ASX-listed Carnegie Clean Energy.

The company proudly stated that Energy Made Clean (EMC), its wholly owned subsidiary had been contracted by the Department of Defense to design, construct, install and integrate an effective solar, diesel and battery storage microgrid system which will be set up at the Delamere Air Weapons Range, approximately 400km south of Darwin.

Being the company’s area of specialty, EMC plans to combine hybrid solarpower system with the latest technologies and control platforms to reduce the facility’s diesel fuel usage by 60 per cent or more. This is EMC’s second contract with the Department of Defence; the first being the installation of a renewable energy hybrid microgrid system at Bathurst Island in 2015. The contract to design, construct and install a proven Microgrid System at Delamere Air Weapons Range in the Northern Territory of Australia was awarded to Carnegie, CEO of the reputable Clean Energy Limited (ASX:CCE).

Energy Made Clean (EMC), a fully owned subsidiary of Carnegie landed the utility-scale contract to design, construct, install and integrate a solar, diesel and battery energy storage system (BESS) microgrid at its Delamere Air Weapons Range, situated about 400km south of Darwin, NT. The contract was awarded by Lendlease a Managing Contractor on behalf of Department of Defence. The hybrid solar power system is expected to generate high penetration solar power at nearly 200kVA during peak load; hence delivering a 61% savings in diesel consumption. The proposed design will feature hi-tech technologies and control platforms that EMC has over the past 3 years proven to be powerful and effective.

This contract follows the Bathurst Island project that entailed installation of a renewable energy hybrid microgrid system awarded by the Department of Defence in 2015 allowing EMC to design and install a 35kVA peak load system complete with remote monitoring facilities. CEO Michael Ottaviano says that owing to the many economics and environmental benefits, a renewable microgrid should be installed in all diesel powered loads.

“Off-grid, renewable based microgrids are cheaper, cleaner and more secure than current diesel powered systems,” he said.

“This project is a great example of the larger, more complex systems where Carnegie and EMC are demonstrated leaders.

“This system has wide reaching application, with the ability to be replicated in similar utilities bases throughout Australia.”

This project is due for completion in mid-2018.

The Author

I took an interest in the Australian energy sector close to ten years ago and since then have monitored the trends, technologies and direction of the Australian Energy Market. I was drawn to the Australian solar market in 2008 and since then have worked heavily in the field. I am partnered with national and international solar energy companies, from manufacturers of solar panel and inverter technology, online software developers that introduce tools to quote, monitor and manage solar power systems and media organisations who like myself, closely monitor the solar and renewable energy sector.