$8.8 million regional power rollout

The state government has today announced the rollout of an $8.8 million of stand-alone power systems, with Perth-based companies Hybrid Systems and BayWA r.e Solar Systems to lead the first stage of deployment.

Hybrid Systems Australia and BayWa r.e Solar Systems will be responsible for the majority of the round one rollout of stand-alone power system (SPS) units to 57 sites across Western Australia’s South West.

An SPS is a solar-battery-diesel power generating system, intended to run isolated from a power grid.

The companies will utilise local engineering and construction expertise to deliver what is believed to be the largest single rollout of SPS units in Australia.

The units have been designed to serve a range of purposes from supplying electric fences and dam pumps, to large-scale agricultural businesses.

Once installed and commissioned, the ongoing servicing and operation of the SPS units will be provided by the vendors for a two-year period.

Servicing the 57 SPS units for their entire working life will save Western Power almost $6 million, compared with traditional network refurbishment.

The project builds on a successful trial of the technology on six properties in the Great Southern in 2016, in which customers avoided over 90 hours of outages in their second year.

Energy Minister Bill Johnston said the rollout would play a key role in increasing regional energy reliability, particularly in areas on the fringes of the grid.

Kewdale-based Hybrid Systems Australia welcomed the announcement, stating that it would be responsible for the supply, delivery, installation and operation of 49 of the SPS units.

The solar systems will generate enough power for 60 typical residential customers in the South West.

Led by directors Mike Hall and Aaron Hodges, privately owned Hybrid designs, procures, constructs, commissions and operates remote power station assets.

BayWA r.e. Solar Systems delivers wind and solar projects across Australia, and is part of the wider BayWA group, worth over $25 billion.