{"id":47079,"date":"2021-02-01T05:09:09","date_gmt":"2021-01-31T18:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=47079"},"modified":"2021-02-01T05:09:09","modified_gmt":"2021-01-31T18:39:09","slug":"sps-rollout-wa-mb1860","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/sps-rollout-wa-mb1860\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Stand-Alone Power System Rollout In Western Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Stand-alone<\/p>\n

98 more stand-alone power systems will be rolled out across WA’s South-West Interconnected System (SWIS) starting from July this year.<\/p>\n

Maintaining electricity supply over long stretches of powerlines that service small communities and individual customers is continually challenged by hazards including lightning strikes, falling trees and high winds. Various pilots have shown stand-alone power systems (SPS’s)\u00a0 can be cheaper than maintaining mains grid infrastructure in fringe of grid areas, as well as providing a more reliable and safer electricity supply.<\/p>\n

An SPS usually consist of solar panels and battery, along with a backup generator where required, that operate off-grid.<\/p>\n

Back in 2016, Western Power kicked off a trial of SPS units at 6 farms, measuring reliability of power supply and customer satisfaction. Three years on and it proved to be a winner, with each customer avoiding more than 200 power interruptions. While backup generators were in place for each of these installations, more than 90% of power generated came from the solar panels.<\/p>\n

“Out of 10, customer satisfaction went from less than six pre-trial, to over nine with SPS in place,” said Western Power<\/a> in 2019.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

SPS’s Replacing Old Powerlines<\/h2>\n

The Electricity Industry Amendment Bill 2019 passed by WA’s Parliament in April last year provided the green light for Western Power to use SPS’s more broadly in the South West Interconnected System.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the end of October last year, 52 stand-alone power systems had been rolled out, which will replace around 230 kilometres of overhead powerlines. <\/span>In this new phase, 98 systems will replace around 330km of powerlines within areas including Kalbarri, Three Springs, Merredin, Jerramungup and Rocky Gully.<\/p>\n

Last Thursday, WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston announced<\/a> the businesses awarded contracts under the initiative:<\/p>\n