Juwi to Conustruct Further Solar Park Hybrid Solution in Australia
Brisbane, Australia / Wörrstadt, Germany - Hybrid power solutions offer the potential to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels in off-grid environments. At the same time, they produce reliable electricity at competitive prices. The Australian Juwi subsidiary has been awarded the contract to build another hybrid system in Australia.
Hybrid solution supplies small town of Jaribu in Australia's Northern Territory with electricity
Juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Brisbane-based German project developer Juwi, and international renewable energy company EDL have signed an agreement to build a solar hybrid power plant. The plant's electricity will be used to power residents as well as tourists and visitors to the town of Jabiru. The plant will consist of a solar array with a capacity of 3.9 megawatts (MW), battery storage (3 MW/5 MWh) and a diesel generator with a capacity of 4.5 MW.
Construction of the plant is expected to begin shortly. The diesel generator is expected to be operational by the end of 2021. Completion of the solar farm including battery storage is scheduled for early 2022. The power plant will be owned and operated by EDL. Once completed, the hybrid power plant is expected to meet at least half of the annual electricity needs of the community of 1,100 residents.
The combined-cycle plant is located in Kakadu National Park, which is listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and one of Australia's most beautiful national parks for its unique wildlife and flora.
"The hybrid power plant will enable us to reduce the fossil share of the city's energy supply in Kakadu National Park by at least 50 percent. We are pleased that together with EDL we can once again realize such a project and contribute to a more sustainable energy supply for Jabiru," explains Dave Manning, head of Juwi's global hybrid business.
Four more hybrid solutions in Australia
The Jabiru project is already the fifth hybrid power plant Juwi is implementing in Australia. Other projects include a wind-solar hybrid solution to supply Esperance in Western Australia. The Australian Juwi subsidiary signed the contract for the construction of the plant last year with the energy service provider Contract Power from Perth. The hybrid project will consist of a 4.5 MW solar farm, two 4.5 MW wind turbines and a lithium-ion battery storage system, which will be synchronized with the existing gas generators. The facility is expected to supply about half of Esperance's annual electricity needs.
In addition to the hybrid solutions for Jabiru and Esperance, Juwi has already developed hybrid renewable energy solutions for three other Australian customers: For the Degrussa gold and copper mine, the Agnew mine and a research center on Heron Island.
The construction of hybrid power plants for non-grid industries, such as mines, is an important growth segment for the Juwi Group, alongside the development and operational management of wind and solar parks.
Source: IWR Online, 01 Mar 2021
