In Western Australia, standalone power systems are an attractive proposition. This year, state grid operator Western Power announced it was set to roll out 57 such systems at farms, having inked $8.8 million (US$5.95 million) in contracts for the first stage of its landmark off-grid program for regional properties. Servicing the units for their working life will save Western Power almost $6 million compared to the network refurbishment which would otherwise be needed to ensure reliable power supply to rural properties in off or edge-of-grid areas.

That off-grid roll-out built on a standalone power trial program launched by Western Power at six farms in the Great Southern region in 2016. The trial found an average 70 hours of power outages were avoided in its first year and a whopping 92% of the affected properties’ power supply could be met by solar – buffered by battery storage.

Reforms needed

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has recommended changes at a federal level which would enable off-grid systems to supply power to remote areas. While consumers can currently go “off-grid”, they do so at their own expense and in most cases have limited consumer protection. The AEMC has recommended the Council of Australian Governments’ energy council require distribution networks to identify opportunities for standalone systems and work with customers where a transition to off-grid power makes sense.

“The old-fashioned way of centralized generation being distributed by stringing poles and wires to the remote corners of Australia is giving way to solar and battery systems where energy is generated closer to where it is used,” AEMC chief executive Anne Pearson said. “These reforms mean that people living at the end of the line will get a better quality service with the same protections without paying any more.”

Trials of standalone power systems are under way in several states including New South Wales and Queensland.