Lake Wells microgrid creates greenest SOP project

PWR has installed more than 350MW worth of solar power across Australia’s remote mine sites and director Ryan Green was confident in its ability to deliver at Lake Wells.

“We’re extremely pleased to be awarded preferred bidder status by Australian Potash. This is further recognition of PWR Hybrid’s capabilities in the hybrid power station market,” Green said.

“Having recently delivered a 12MW gas-fired power station in WA, and commenced work on the hybridisation of that project, the company is well-positioned to partner with (Australian Potash) to provide an industry leading hybrid power station at the (LSOP) project.”

The microgrid will take Lake Wells renewable energy fraction (REF) above 65 per cent, making it one of the leading remote mine site power installations in the country.

The scope of the intended microgrid will include 4.5 MW of solar power, 9MW wind, 9MW battery energy storage systems (BESS), 10.7MW gas, and 2MW diesel power.

Australian Potash managing director and chief executive officer Matt Shackleton said much work had gone into ensuring the sustainability of the Lake Wells project.

“Strategically, we shifted the focus of the LSOP development and operations to a sustainable energy footing to capture and leverage the already low (greenhouse gas emissions) footprint of a solar-salt project,” Shackleton said.

“With the benefit of time, and rigorous and methodical planning, several alternative configurations for the LSOP microgrid were presented and assessed.

“We are pleased to appoint a preferred proponent to work with us in developing what will be Australia’s greenest SOP project.”