Solar power for Ti Tree, Kalkarindgi and Alpurrurulam

19 May 2011

Construction started last week in Ti Tree on the first of three new solar power stations announced for the remote communities of Ti Tree, Kalkarindgi and Alpurrurulam (Lake Nash).  A wind energy system will also be installed at Alpurrurulam.

The Ti Tree facility located around 200km north of Alice Springs will generate around 550 million watt hours each year.   Over the three communities, a total of 1 million watts of solar panels are being installed.

What this means for local residents is that 80 per cent of the electricity used during the day to conduct activities such as boiling a kettle or watching the news, will be supplied by the sun.

The remaining energy requirements will continue to be supplied by diesel generators, which will operate on a more constant load day and night.   This improves the efficiency and service life of the diesel engines.  

A reduction in the volume of diesel required is another benefit of the project, as supplying diesel to remote communities is expensive and often difficult during the wet season. This means that fewer deliveries will be required and the diesel stored in each location will last longer.

“Renewable energy sources such as these three solar power stations are a reliable, cost effective and more environmentally sustainable electricity supply for remote communities,” said Power and Water’s General Manager Remote Operations Darryl Day.

The three facilities will also deliver substantial savings of around 1200 tonnes of CO2-e emissions.  This benefits both the surrounding communities and the Northern Territory as a whole.

To build and operate these three solar power stations as well as a wind energy system at Alpurrurulam, Power and Water has signed a power purchase agreement with Epuron Pty Ltd and its subsidiary TKLN Solar Pty Ltd.  Conergy Australia and Epuron, as wholly owned subsidiaries of Conergy AG, are also proud to be part of this renewable energy project from design stage through to construction.

All three sites are scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.

Funding for this $14 million project includes $5 million under the Australian Government Renewable Remote Power Generation Program, $4 million from the Northern Territory Government under the Climate Change Policy and $5 million in private equity.

Once these three solar power stations are complete Power and Water Corporation will have nine large solar systems in their portfolio, including Hermannsburg, Lajamanu, Yuendumu, Jilkminggan, Bulman and Kings Canyon.  

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