First Pilbara business goes off-grid

An Aboriginal organisation has become the first business in the Pilbara to go completely off-grid, finalising a deal to be reliant on solar power and batteries announced mid last-year.

Designed and commissioned by Osborne Park-based Energy Made Clean, the bespoke 100-kilowatt solar PV and 70kWh lithium ion battery system has been switched on at the Pilbara Meta Maya Regional Aboriginal Corporation's headquarters in Port Hedland.

PMMRAC chief executive Rachael Green said having a self-reliant renewable power solution was a major step in the organisation achieving greater sustainability, while reducing power bills by what she said would be a significant amount.

EMC managing director John Davidson said PMMRAC could expect to recoup the system’s costs within five years.

It’s understood PMMRAC is also investigating renewable energy solutions for the 29 remote Indigenous communities it serves across northern Western Australia through its household services, which include providing power and water.