Kalbarri Microgrid Project Powers Ahead

The awarding of a $6.8 million contract for a 100 per cent renewable energy-powered microgrid project for Kalbarri in Western Australia was announced yesterday.

Kalbarri is a town of around 1,560 people situated approximately 590 kilometres north of Perth. Very much a fringe-of-grid location, blackouts have been an all too frequent occurrence in Kalbarri, with the town experiencing eleven extended power outages each year on average.

To address the electricity reliability issue, Western Power has been consulting with the community on the specifications of a microgrid, with locals wanting a focus on renewables. The discussions and other processes culminated in an announcement yesterday from WA Energy Minister Ben Wyatt that a joint venture between Energy Made Clean (EMC) and Lendlease will design and construct the project.

Touted to be one of the most sophisticated microgrids in Australia, the Kalbarri Microgrid Project will feature a 5MW/ 4.5MWh battery with a minimum of 2MWh capacity reserved for reliability services,

The battery energy storage system (BESS) will integrate with wind power from a local facility (2 x 800kW wind turbines), residential solar¹, plus future renewable energy projects to form what EMC’s parent company, Carnegie Clean Energy, says will be the largest microgrid in Western Australia.

Kalbarri’s connection to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) via a 140 kilometre feeder line from Geraldton will be maintained.

Design work for the Kalbarri microgrid project will commence immediately, with construction scheduled to start in November this year and operation by June 2019.

“”It is a game changer for regional communities who rely on power from a long feeder line, which is subject to environmental factors that can cause outages,” said Minister Wyatt. ” The improved reliability for the region will boost the local tourism and retail operations, as well as enhance the lifestyle of residents.”

Mr. Wyatt also reportedly stated the battery system could supply electricity to Kalbarri for up to two hours without input from wind and solar power – and the majority of outages have been under one hour.

Another project involving wind + solar + storage for the region (but not a microgrid) is an Advanced Energy Resources development to occur near Yallabatharra. Recently approved by Northampton Shire Council , the clean power station will feature 5 wind turbines with a collective output capacity of approximately 2.5MW and up to 3,500 solar panels representing 1MW of capacity, along with battery storage (capacity unknown).