This report presents the consolidated lessons learnt from the Horizon Power DER Trial in Carnarvon and discusses the final project observations and remaining knowledge gaps.
Report extract
Horizon Power has conducted a series of technology trials in the town of Carnarvon in the Gascoyne – Mid West region of Western Australia (WA) to explore economically efficient options for microgrid operation. The trials have explored the management of high penetration levels of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), (internet) cloud-based aggregation of DER into Virtual Power Plants, advanced data analytics, and digital apps that provide customers with data with which they can make informed decisions concerning energy consumption.
Carnarvon, situated on the mouth of the Gascoyne River 900 km north of Perth, has a population of approx. 5,500. Horizon Power commissioned a new 13 MW gas-fired (with diesel peaking) Mungallah Power Station in 2014. Horizon Power’s ownership of the power station offered the trials control system insights and optimisation options that would not be possible with an independent power producer operating under a power purchase agreement.
