Horizon Power - meeting customers' renewable energy needs

Significant changes in the energy industry in recent times have resulted in the creation of new opportunities for renewable energy alternatives.

Horizon Power is at the forefront of these changes and is exploring new ways to meet our customers’ energy needs using the very latest technology and at the same time keeping new investment in infrastructure to a minimum.

Stand-alone Power Systems Esperance (SPSE) is one such opportunity that arose out of the tragedy of the Esperance bushfires in November 2015.

Hundreds of wooden power poles were destroyed in communities east and north-west of Esperance and more than 450 customers were impacted by the damage to our network. The restoration effort was large and swift.

The majority of affected customers had power restored within ten days. However, some customers at the end of damaged powerlines were supplied with temporary

diesel generators while we investigated the opportunity to supply them with stand-alone power systems.

These systems are an alternative way of supplying power to customers who were previously connected to the network.

Horizon Power has the capability of developing individualised systems for our customers, working with multiple suppliers to achieve this.

www.horizonpower.com.au

Stand-alone Power Systems Esperance

“Horizon Power has done an outstanding job responding to the Esperance bushfires and also in creating this opportunity to launch renewable energy systems in the regions. I am a farmer myself and I know that many members of our local farming community are very interested in this project and in potentially having them on their farms in the future.”

Esperance Shire President Victoria Brown

Rodney and John Locke were the first two Esperance customers to sign up for SPS, here with Horizon Power’s Managing Director Frank Tudor and Chairman Ian Mickel.

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We are working very closely with five of our Esperance customers impacted by the fires who now stand to benefit from the latest solar and battery storage technology to power their properties. This will reduce the risk of power outages to their properties resulting from storms and fires.

I am delighted to be the first Horizon Power customer in Western Australia to receive a stand-alone power system. I saw it as an opportunity to have something more than we had ever hoped for – a reliable, clean energy source which will deliver even better service than we had in the past. It won’t be affected by outages caused by maintenance on the network or weather-related events.”

Rodney Locke of Adina Stud, Cape Le Grande

The SPS units provide an alternative to rebuilding some of our powerlines. Customers with a SPS will pay the same price for power as they paid previously. The solar panels and batteries are backed up by diesel generation. The units will be operated and maintained by Horizon Power. There is no cost to the customers as they will remain Horizon Power assets. Any faults will be responded to by Horizon Power.

While the cost benefits of providing this alternative energy source are currently marginal, the price of battery storage technology is rapidly decreasing. Horizon Power is aiming to be at the forefront of renewable energy alternatives as the technology becomes more affordable and efficient.

Esperance Shire President Victoria Brown has welcomed the project, saying it is an exciting initiative for the region and particularly for farmers located at the end of long powerlines.

Horizon Power Managing Director Frank Tudor said the Esperance project is the beginning of a new era.

www.horizonpower.com.au

• SPS is an alternative power source for rural customers whose properties are located on long powerlines servicing a small number of customers.

• These SPS units generate and store electricity without being connected to the existing electricity network. With its own solar panels, batteries, inverters and back-up diesel generator, it supplies continuous power 24 hours a day, regardless of the weather.

• SPS units include solar panels to generate electricity during daylight hours. If the customer isn’t using as much electricity as the solar cells are generating, the batteries will charge up until they are full.

• The SPS batteries discharge power at night. A diesel generator provides backup power if energy use is higher than the solar panels and battery can supply, or if the weather is overcast for a long time.

• One of the benefits of the SPS units is they replace long powerlines which are vulnerable to reliability issues caused by faults or severe weather events.

• SPS units can be used to power homes, sheds, workshops, offices and farm worker accommodation.

Fast facts

“We have developed a new consumer energy strategy that will be implemented throughout regional Western Australia within the communities we serve. Our goal is to harness the very latest in renewable energy technology and offer alternative power supplies for our customers.”

Horizon Power Managing Director Frank Tudor

For more information, contact Goldfields Esperance Retail and Community Manager Donna Gibson on 9072 3400 or visit www.horizonpower.com.au