Horizon Power awards Onslow solar contracts

Horizon Power has awarded contracts to CPS National and Contract Power Group for the construction of a solar farm and battery storage in Onslow.

CPS will build the solar farm, which will be located 18 kilometres from Onslow, while Contract Power will build and install a utility-scale battery within Horizon’s substation about 3km from the town.

The contracts form part of Horizon Power’s distributed energy resources project in Onslow, which will provide the town with a high level of renewable energy.

The initial part of the project includes a new gas-fired power station, which is nearing completion.

The solar farm and battery storage are expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.

The battery will be used to manage events such as overcast conditions and peak electricity demand.

CPS completed a solar stand-alone power supply system for a fuel station in Onslow between 2015 and 2016. 

Horizon Power managing director Frank Tudor highlighted the significance of the project.

“This is demonstrating our capacity to deliver the safe and reliable integration of renewable energy into our existing systems throughout regional and remote Western Australia,” he said.

“Together with these central energy assets, we’re also developing technology and infrastructure platforms to ultimately enable our customers to easily and efficiently connect, generate, store and sell their own electricity.

“Our DER microgrids will deliver more affordable and sustainable electricity to communities, giving customers more choice over how they receive their energy and greater ability to lower their power bills.”