View Rottnest Island's renewable power generation in real time with Hydro Tasmania's new Rottnest Island Water and Renewable Energy Nexus project mobile phone app.
This app will take you on a journey through the exciting renewable energy scheme that is making Rottnest Island more self-sufficient and sustainable. Use the app to explore the Island, visit the solar farm and wind turbine and discover ways to reduce your ecological footprint. Don't forget to look out for the educational signs dotted across the island!
Download for your iPhone or Android today!
Rottnest Island, off the south-west coast of Western Australia, has 5 GWh of annual customer demand, peaking at 1.1 MW. Sustainable practices and conservation are important to the community.
By integrating renewable resources with the island’s desalination plant and water storage facilities, the Rottnest Island Water and Renewable Energy Nexus project (WREN) delivers electricity and clean water at lower cost, and with lower emissions. The hybrid system is capable of displacing 45% of annual diesel fuel, and operates at up to 95% renewable energy penetration when conditions allow, through innovative use of renewable energy and smart control of load. The project was supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Rottnest Island Authority. “Working with Hydro Tasmania to deliver a world class project has been a journey of exceptional project management and sound technical delivery. The team have always been focused on the job and always forthcoming with key suggestions to ensure Rottnest Island has taken the necessary steps towards a sustainable future of renewable energy.” -Rottnest Island Authority
Hydro Tasmania was engaged to install and integrate a 600 kW solar array energy into the existing power system, which includes an existing 600 kW wind turbine, to boost and diversify the renewable energy capacity in the system.
The hybrid control system is integrated with the desalination plant and water storage facilities for automated demand-side management capability, switching on the plant and pumps when renewable generation outpaces demand on the island.
Hydro Tasmania’s involvement included the study of development options, solar farm design, enabler selection, demand-side management design, assistance with business case preparation and capital cost estimation, and assistance with community engagement and development applications.
We delivered design, procurement, installation, commissioning and tuning of all equipment and the overall power system.
This includes the 600kW solar array installation and distribution connection, diesel station hardware upgrade, dynamic resistor, demand-side management and installation of the hybrid control system and commissioning.
The project provides significant operational cost savings in power supply through the ability to utilise a high degree of renewable generation, up to 95% at times, and through running the desalination plant preferentially on renewable energy rather than diesel.