Photon Energy Group (WSE: PEN) announces that its subsidiaryPhoton Energy Engineering Australia will install a hybrid solar andbattery storage system on Lord Howe Island, New South Wales,reducing the local community’s reliance on diesel-generatedpower.
A minimum 1.2 MWp solar PV array and a battery system with over3.2 MWh capacity will soon be built on the WorldHeritage-listedremote island, located in the Tasman Sea 700kmnorth-east of Sydney.
The integrated solar and storage system, purposely designed fora small and remote location, will provide more than two thirds ofLord Howe Island’s electricity, currently powered by dieselgeneration.
“Photon Energy is proud to have been successful in the Lord HoweIsland Board’s rigorous tender process and to be given theopportunity to help the island’s community not only massively saveon diesel and greenhouse gas emissions but also to prevent spillsand pollution in a pristine environment,” said Michael Gartner,Managing Director of Photon Energy Australia.
Through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the federalgovernment has provided AUD 4.5 million towards this AUD 11.1million project, with the NSW government also providing a loanfacility of AUD 5.9 million to the Lord Howe Island Board,responsible for care, control and management of the island.
The ground-mounted PV power facility combined with solar batterystorage will be integrated with the local microgrid and dieselgenerators, which currently form the main power source for theisland's community.
Construction on the hybrid solar and battery system project willcommence early next year and is expected to be completed by June2020.
Image by Elizabeth Allnutt: Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower,Lord Howe Island, New South Wales.
Lord Howe Island is located in the South Pacific Oceanapproximately 700 km north east of Sydney and is part of NSW. The Island is crescent shaped, approximately 11 km long and 3 kmwide with a land area of 1,455 hectares. A coral reef 6 kmlong encloses a lagoon on the Western side. The lower centralsection of the Island, which supports the settlement area, islocated between a northerly range of hills (up to 209 m) and arugged southern landscape dominated by two spectacular mountains,Mount Lidgbird (777 m) and Mount Gower (875 m). There areapproximately 350 residents and tourism is the major industry andsource of income on the Island. Approximately 16,000 peoplevisit the Island each year and there are 21 accommodation lodges.Lord Howe Island is well known for its outstanding bushwalking,fishing, diving and surfing and there are a number of very goodrestaurants catering to both visitors and local residents. TheIsland is linked by regular passenger air services to Sydney andBrisbane. A ship provides regular cargo services between the Islandand Port Macquarie on the NSW north coast.
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Martin Kysly
T +420 774 810 670
E martin.kysly@photonenergy.com