The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $18.5 million to go towards a wind, solar and diesel hybrid project at Coober Pedy in South Australia.
Energy Developments Limited (ENE) is seeking to integrate up to 2 MW of solar panels, 3 MW of wind power and associated infrastructure into the company’s existing 3.9 MW diesel power station at Coober Pedy. The hybrid system would generate enough renewables-based power to supply 70 per cent of Coober Pedy’s needs.
“This ambitious project may demonstrate a combined approach for powering off-grid Australian communities that currently rely solely on expensive trucked-in diesel,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht.
“Australia’s energy demand is growing off the grid and this landmark project will show how high penetration renewable energy projects can deliver safe, reliable power to off-grid communities.”
Assuming a final investment decision by ENE and appropriate approvals and agreements, completion is estimated to be in mid-2017.
“We see this ARENA supported project as the precursor to other renewable hybrid projects that we are keen to implement throughout Australia to meet our customer’s growing interest in these energy solutions, and to significantly displace existing diesel generation,” said ENE Managing Director Greg Pritchard.
According to the Australian Solar Council, ARENA has achieved a great deal in the past two two years, including:
– Support for 190+ projects worth $2.5 billion
– Project funding matched almost 2:1 by industry
– $1.1 billion worth of commercial deployment
– $7.7 billion in projects in the pipeline (should ARENA be retained)
– Two solar projects that are Australian firsts –
Weipa – first off-grid farm powering a mine and town
Nyngan – largest PV plant in southern hemisphere
Even given its success, the Australian Government has had the agency in its crosshairs after back-flipping on a promise to maintain it. However, the plans to axe ARENA have been thwarted by a newly-minted Senator, Ricky Muir.
Retaining ARENA will also be crucial to the Port Augusta solar thermal power plant, should it go ahead.
A Senate Standing Committee review of ARENA is under way and submissions close on July 16.
