Solar Diesel Hybrid Power Station

Background:

• 2007: Resort management decides to investigate options for renewable power generation and emission reductions Tropical Energy Solutions conducts Energy Audit and identifies opportunities to combine comprehensive load management with hybrid power system development 
Average daily fuel consumption reduced from 500l to 300l with equal reductions in emissions and costs
• 2008: Federal Government funding approval obtained to support construction of Hybrid Power Station 
Tropical Energy Solutions provides the Hybrid Power Station System Design services. 
Hybrid Power Station built during November and December 2008, and was commissioned on the 20.12.2008

• 
Free-standing hardwood timber structure 18.25m x 8.20m, 25° tilt to true north, 143m² active solar surface area
  
• 20 kWp Solar PV modules (96 x Kyocera 205), 6000Ah 48V VRLA Gel Battery Bank (48 x Sonnenschein A600/3500)
  
• 64 kW encapsulated genset, AC Coupled Inverter System (6 x SMA Sunny Island + 3 x SMA SMC 7000TL)
  
• 100 kW 3-phase 415 V System capacity, datalogging and internet integration via SMA WebBox

• Reduction of resort peak load by 42%, Reduction of annual load by 35%.
• Reduction of diesel consumption from 550 litres per day to 160 litres per day = 142000 litres / year
• This resulted in a reduction in CO2 emissions by 70% = 380 tonnes CO2/year
• Reduction of genset running hours by 29%, Reduction of genset maintenance cost > 50%
• Reduced dependence on fossil fuels , barging services, and fuel storage facilities in the Marine Park

• System extension, including the installation of additional solar PV and wind power generators by 2012
• Installation of water harvesting and energy efficient desalination plant
•  A 5 year plan to eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels to power the resort

see map