Hydro Tasmania earlier this month met King Island’s power needs with 100 per cent continuous renewable energy for almost 33 hours.
This is the latest in a long line of achievements for the King Island Renewable Energy Project. A second 26 hour period where diesel generators were completely switched off was achieved during October 2015.
King Island is home to around 1700 people and a world-class dairy industry. Wind, solar, bio diesel and diesel are working alongside battery energy storage, a smart grid and advanced control systems to power the island.
ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the milestone was a live example of how different renewable energy and enabling technologies can work together to provide stable, reliable power around the clock.
“Hydro Tasmania is using a unique combination of technologies to reduce King island’s reliance on expensive shipped in diesel and provide residents with a more secure and reliable energy source.
“This innovative energy solution could benefit off-grid communities on islands and in regional mainland Australia. I look forward to seeing Hydro Tasmania continue to refine and commercialise its approach in other locations.”
ARENA has provided $6 million funding to support the $18.25 million project and is supporting Hydro Tasmania to carry out a similar project on Flinders Island.
