RenewEconomy/Giles Parkinson: Australia Defence looks to solar power to cut costs, lift security

Renew Economy

Australia Defence looks to solar power to cut costs, lift security
By Giles Parkinson on 6 October 2017
Print Friendly

Image 5-10-2017 at 4.05 PM

The Australian Department of Defence has made it first major push into solar energy, calling a tender for solar power system to be installed at its Satellite Communications Station (ADSCS) at Kojarena, near Geraldton, in Western Australia.

In what is expected to the first of many such moves, Defence is calling for a 1.2MW solar system to reduce the station’s reliance on the main grid, known as the South-West Interconnected System (SWIS), and to boost energy security at its installations.

The tender documents were posted this week, and they note that Defence is the biggest user of energy in the federal government, but is “uniquely” positioned to be able to integrate renewable energy on its vast “estate”.

The ADSCS site is among the first to make the transition, thanks to its excellent solar resources, but is clearly just a forerunner for other projects.

“It is Defence’s vision to be a leader in sustainable environmental management to support the capability of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to defend Australia and its national interests,” the document says.

It notes that the solar array is intended to reduce costs – because it will be cheaper than importing grid power – and it says it will create “energy security” options in the future, and build the department’s expertise with renewable energy.

Indeed, it suggests other renewable energy projects are also planned, as the project will enable defence to use its knowledge to “replicate elsewhere” in the Estate.

It will also “create a positive public image and good reputation within the local community and wider population” and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

There are no plans to build storage at this stage, and the facility will not export back into the grid as its output will be consumed on site. The project is due to be completed in the current 2017/18 financial year.

The Kojarena facility is part of the US signals intelligence and the analysis network Echelon, and has four satellite tracking dishes which intercept communications from Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Pakistani regional satellites, according to Wikipedia.

The US defence department has its own ambitious goals of sourcing 25 per cent of its electricity from renewables, and the creation of a “green fleet” in its Navy. Apart from cost savings, using renewables were possible also reduced the huge risks involved in supply lines.

The Australian facility near Geraldton is following the path of other major energy users in the area seeking to reduce costs by sourcing at least part of their energy needs through solar, or wind energy.

In June, a garnet mining company south of Kalbarri signed up for a 3MW wind and solar farm with battery storage, so it can access cheaper and more reliable energy, given its problems with outages caused by storms, bushfires and salt-water.

It will consider going “100 per cent renewable” and removing the ties to the grid if the system works out well. Further north, in Exmouth, the local power company Horizon Power took the Exmouth Golf Club off grid this month to save the cost of grid upgrades. It will use mostly solar and storage, with some diesel on standby.







  
Share this:

 34 25 0share0share0 1 60
We Recommend
Impact plans second solar investment fund as...CleanTech Bites,Governments,Solar
EVs and storage: Lithium’s wild ride and why it...Energy Markets,News & Commentary
Queensland council saves $1.9m in grid costs from...Battery storage,Governments,News & Commentary,one step,Renewables,Solar
Tesla opens first Adelaide storePress Releases
California rejects gas peaker plant, seeks clean...Other Good Stuff,Smart Energy
Solar sedan and sports coupe in race across...News & Commentary,Smart Transport,Solar
Recommendations powered by plista
Australian Federal Government • CleanTech Bites • Governments defence
« Previous Post
Next Post »

    RenewEconomy Free Daily Newsletter
    Email Address
    From Our Partners At SolarQuotes
    Live Australia Electricity Generation Data
       
    Live Generation
       
    Fri 06 Oct at 14:35 (NEM Time)
    WATASSAVICNSWQLD0 MW3,000 MW6,000 MW9,000 MWBlack CoalBrown CoalGasLiquid FuelOtherHydroWindLarge SolarAPVI Small Solar*
    v2.0.4.8875
    Upcoming Events
    




    Sponsored Links










    Renew Economy Jobs Board


    Press Releases
        New Energy Solar to acquire 130MW portfolio of PV plants from Cypress Creek Renewables
        CS Energy signs 10 year agreement with Kennedy Energy Park
        Romilly Madew wins prestigious international sustainability award
        AECOM powers up with three senior hires
        Many utilities believe cyberattacks could bring down the electric distribution grid

    Follow Us
     

    Popular Articles
        Stunning new low for solar PV as even IEA hails "age of solar"
        Australia's first solar farm co-located with wind park begins production
        Samsung chosen for new 30MW battery storage facility in S.A.
        Why the Tesla truck will turn freight industry upside down

    Popular Tags
    ARENA Australia battery storage carbon emissions CEFC China clean energy climate climate change coal cop21 electricity electric vehicle electric vehicles emissions energy energy efficiency energy storage EV EVs fossil fuels Gas Germany global global warming Greenhouse Gases India NEM nuclear paris policy renewable energy renewable energy target renewables rooftop solar smart energy solar solar energy solar PV south australia Tesla United States wind wind energy wind farm

© Copyright RenewEconomy 2017. All rights reserved.
Privacy | Terms of Use | Contact | Login
Follow
Share
Toggle Dock