Hybrid Power
Case Studies
Information
In early 2017, EPSA was engaged by Joule Energy on an innovative first-of-its-kind project to combine solar and methane gas in an energy production farm. EPSA provided an EPC solution for the 1.15MW(ac) PV solar plant providing engineering, design, construction and commissioning.
The Solution
A key feature of the solar plant control is the dynamic reactive power control – since this solar plant is exporting to the grid, the grid voltage is affected with higher export values. To counter the ever growing problem of grid voltage stability, the solar plant is able to dynamically change the output power factor to import or export 100 per cent of the plant’s output in reactive power in a trade-off for active power. This means that the plant can help stabilise the local grid voltage throughout the day.
The Results
11,040 Cat® PV solar modules are mounted on fixed tilt steel frames that contour challenging terrain.
The collective electricity generated from both the landfill gas and solar sources is expected to be over 11,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy per annum – enough to power more than 1,900 homes 24/7.
The solar plant has been successfully exporting green energy into the South Australian grid since it was commissioned in late October 2017 – Cat®’s first solar plant on Australian soil.
