Lord Howe Island Hybrid Renewable Energy System
- $4.5m Funded by ARENA
- $11.85m Total project cost
Summary
The Lord Howe Island Hybrid Renewable Project will add more than 1.2 MW of renewable energy generating capacity and over 3.2 MWh of battery storage to the current diesel power generation system operating on Lord Howe Island, NSW.
Need
The Lord Howe Island is a small and remote island, located in the Tasman Sea 600 kilometres from the Australian mainland. It is a World Heritage site, which has a permanent Island community as well as being an iconic tourist destination.
The Lord Howe Island Board (which has care, control and management of the Lord Howe Island Group) faces a unique set of challenges in supplying and recovering the costs of providing essential services to its community and in protecting the Island’s unique natural environment and World Heritage values.
The Island relies on diesel generation for its power, which is costly and subject to volatility in fuel prices and supply. The diesel fuel is transported to the Island by a small freight ship, which comes to the Island every two to three weeks.
This project consists of:
Project reports- ARENA media release 10/10/19
- ARENA media release 24/06/14
- Lord Howe Island Lessons Learnt Report: Value Management
- Lord Howe Island Renewable Energy Project Lessons Learnt Report
- Lord Howe Island Renewable Energy Project System Design Report
- Lord Howe Island Renewable Energy Project: Solar Resource Data Report
Learn more
Report: Lord Howe Island Renewable Energy Project: Solar Resource Data
This report details the solar irradiation data measured onsite for the first 12 months of operation of the 1.3MWp solar PV plant, and compares this to the resource analysis completed during project development.
Report: Lord Howe Island Renewable Energy Project System Design
The System Design Report outlines the challenges faced and overcome to design and construct the Lord Howe Island solar PV/battery microgrid system.
Media Release: Renewable Solution for Iconic Island Community
ARENA funding support for a 1 MW, $11.6 million hybrid renewable energy project on Lord Howe Island.
Report: Lord Howe Island Renewable Energy Project Lessons Learnt
This lessons learned report discussed the environmental factors that had to be considered when designing the fencing and security of the solar PV system at Lord Howe Island, and the unique resolution strategies that were employed.
Report: Lord Howe Island Lessons Learnt: Value Management
This report explores how the Lord Howe Island Board sought to ensure that the extended planning phase for the Lord Howe Island Hybrid Renewable Energy Project did not result in the project failing to keep up with the latest technology and community values.
Action
The Lord Howe Island Hybrid Renewable Energy System project involves installing 1.2 MW of solar PV generation with over 3.2 MWh of battery storage, allowing high penetration of renewable energy. This combination of technologies will lead to the island using at least 67 per cent less diesel on average.
It will also aim to demonstrate the reliability of an advanced renewable solution for remote off-grid communities. In this way it will also serve as an example for other remote communities looking at alternative ways to generate energy.
This is a variation of the initial Lord Howe Island Hybrid Renewable project, which aimed to deliver 1 MW of renewable energy through a combination of solar PV and wind turbine generation. During the course of the initial project, an alternative technology pathway utilising solar PV and battery storage for the island’s microgrid was selected.
Outcome
The renewable energy system will significantly reduce the reliance of the Lord Howe Island community on expensive, shipped-in diesel, with a sustainable solution combining solar generation and storage. This will be of great benefit to the Lord Howe Island community and visitors to the Island.
It will also help to make deployments of renewable energy systems in similar remote locations less expensive through knowledge sharing and better business models for planning and construction.
Additional impact
The Lord Howe Island Group is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding biodiversity, uniqueness and international importance. It is an iconic tourist destination.
The objective of installing renewable energy on the Island is to reduce the consumption of diesel fuel which is shipped to the Island, thereby reducing emissions and improving financial and environmental sustainability.
Read more
ARENAWIRE Blogs
Lord Howe Island renewables switch
Lord Howe Island draws thousands of visitors every year to experience plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
How are big batteries helping to transition to renewables?
Massive batteries are helping to keep the grid stable as more renewable generation comes online.
Lord Howe Island renewables replace diesel fuel
Famous for its pristine coral reefs, rugged volcanic peaks and species of plants and animals found nowhere else on each, the World Heritage listed Lord Howe Island is about to embark on a major energy transformation.
