A significant milestone in Western Australia’s renewable energy efforts has been achieved with the completion of a centralised solar farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Norseman.
This marks the successful conclusion of Horizon Power’s Mid West Solar Program, a $15.1 million initiative aimed at reducing diesel dependency in remote towns.
Norseman, located in the Esperance region, is the sixth and final town to benefit from this program, joining Cue, Sandstone, Yalgoo, Meekatharra, and Wiluna.
The newly operational 758kW solar system and 336kWh BESS in Norseman have completed reliability testing and are now fully functional.
The program is expected to significantly impact carbon emissions and operational costs.
It is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 2,100 tonnes annually and save approximately $900,000 per year in operational costs by mitigating fuel price fluctuations.
Excess electricity generated during the day will be stored for use at night or during cloudy periods, reducing reliance on diesel generators.
By generating and storing renewable electricity locally, these towns can decrease their dependence on diesel generation, leading to lower fuel costs and reduced environmental impacts.
Horizon Power’s CEO, Stephanie Unwin, emphasised the importance of these projects in providing cleaner energy solutions: “The solar and battery systems provide a cleaner, greener alternative for remote towns that are currently relying solely on diesel generation for their energy needs.”
The Mid West Solar Program received substantial support from the federal government, contributing $13.5 million as part of the WA Microgrids program.
The project was delivered in partnership with Pacific Energy, which will operate and maintain the systems for 10 years.
This initiative represents a significant step towards a sustainable energy future for regional Western Australia, aligning with broader efforts to transition to renewable energy sources and reduce carbon footprints across the state.
