Horizon Power

Western Australia’s unique location makes it an ideal region to pioneer some of the world’s most innovative solar power solutions. Jayne Alverca reviews some of the recent achievements of Horizon Power.

The horizon seems to stretch on forever in the vast territories that make up Western Australia. This is one of the hottest places on earth and clouds are a welcome but all too rare sight. The region provides a home to many small, isolated Aboriginal communities, but despite the heat and isolation, it also has a booming economy driven by rich mineral deposits and soaring commodity prices.

Horizon Power, which is operated by the state government, is tasked with the challenge of providing a reliable power supply in the south-west corner of the state. The company is responsible for generating, procuring, distributing and retailing electricity to residential, industrial and commercial customers, and developing energy resources.

The company was established in 2006 in response to reforms to Western Australia's electricity sector and today has over 30,00 customers. It is the pre-eminent supplier of energy solutions to the remotest region of Western Australia with a uniquely diverse customer base. This ranges from tiny isolated indigenous communities with less than 100 people to residents and small businesses in busy regional towns. At the far end of the spectrum are the major mining companies in the resource-rich Pilbara region. Industrial customers such as these are a key segment; and the company supplies power to over 7,300 business customers from Esperance in the south to Kununurra in the north.

It is an enormous area which spans 2.3 million square kilometres, covering the Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, Mid West and southern Goldfields (Esperance) regions. But what all customers have in common is a requirement for a safe, affordable and reliable power supply. This is achieved via one major interconnected system, the North West Interconnected System (NWIS), and a growing number of non-interconnected or islanded systems in regional towns and remote communities.

Horizon’s approach allows for diverse and discrete solutions to power generation, according to local needs and environmental conditions. The company has adopted a bespoke method of developing solutions that meet the energy needs of people living in remote areas and is a leading specialist in the design and implementation of fully-integrated energy systems. The service package begins with a comprehensive analysis of energy demand, local weather and geographical features to determine the best source of energy. Then demand management studies are used to help customers to manage consumption and to correctly size new systems. It will even tailor services to individual customers rather than taking a ‘whole community’ approach.

Horizon Power is focused on delivering high-penetration, renewable energy solutions on all of its small networks and isolated systems to reduce carbon emissions and ensure the security of supply in regional areas. Potential solutions include photovoltaic solar energy and wind turbines ranging from 30 kW up to 6 MW; and new technologies such as energy storage systems and ripple and demand side management using smart meter systems to ensure that the largest possible proportion of renewable energy is supplied to customers. Aftercare is always a major consideration and the deployment of renewable energy systems involves the establishment of sustainable maintenance and support arrangements.

A key facet of the company’s work is the promotion and development of new privately owned power stations to replace its own ageing diesel power stations. Advances in solar technology and the many hours of sunshine provide a special window of opportunity for that particular form of power generation.

Horizon Power is particularly proud of two new power stations at the towns of Marble Bar and Nullagine, in the east Pilbara region of Western Australia. The power stations are the first high-penetration, hybrid solar-diesel power stations in the world and will set new benchmarks for hybrid, standalone systems, featuring extremely high renewable energy generation and conversion. To date, the ground-mounted systems are the largest of their kind in Australia. Commissioned in 2010, they are the result of a joint project with development partners PowerCorp Pty Ltd and Sunpower Australia.

The project has included the installation of more than 2,000 solar panels across both towns and incorporates solar tracking systems that follow the path of the sun in each town throughout the day. The latest energy storage technology is being used to store energy from the panels and to stabilize power quality between the diesel power station and the solar farm.

The solar energy systems will generate over 1.155 MWh of renewable energy per annum, supplying 30 per cent of the annual energy for both towns and up to 65 per cent of day-time energy. The systems are resulting in savings of 405,000 litres of fuel and 1,093 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year and should meet the energy needs of local communities for the next 20 years.

Horizon Power is also finding innovative ways in which to promote knowledge and understanding of new technologies. The mining boom in Pilbara, for example, has generated skills shortages in technology which have become the focus of a new corporate social responsibility initiative. Horizon announced in June 2011 that it would be involved as a sponsor of Women in Technology Western Australia (WITWA). The organisation has designed a technology outreach programme for youth in remote and regional Western Australia to encourage girls and boys into careers in technology.

“Support from Horizon Power means we have the pleasure of partnering with a likeminded organisation interested in providing opportunities for children living in regional Western Australia,” said Marjolein Towler, chair of WITWA.

James Deacon, general manager of Knowledge and Technology at Horizon Power, commented: "The partnership between Horizon Power and Women in Technology Western Australia is in the spirit of our company's commitment to deliver lasting value to the communities we serve. We expect this partnership to leave a positive legacy in the Pilbara community by helping to deliver educational and leadership benefits.

“Horizon Power is also focused on improving the quality of life of Aboriginal people and I believe this programme will provide important encouragement and support to the leadership of Aboriginal communities in this region by demonstrating real opportunities available—in both Horizon Power and the technical industry as a whole,” he added. http://www.horizonpower.com.au