The State Government continues to roll out stand-alone power systems (SPS), with Western Power planning an additional 100 units for Round 2 of the SPS project.
The units are being installed in the Mid-West, Goldfields, eastern Wheatbelt and the Great Southern regions.
The SPS project follows the success of a pilot trial in 2016, which significantly improved power reliability with customers avoiding more than 200 hours of power interruptions over the past three years.
Round 1 of the SPS project involved installing 57 SPS units this year.
As stated by Energy Minister Bill Johnston:
“The McGowan Government is committed to revitalising our energy sector, and ensuring our system provides reliable and safe power, while utilising new and emerging technologies.
“Stand-alone power systems provide an economical alternative to replacing poles and wires in many low population density rural areas.
“This project is also boosting local jobs with supplier Hybrid increasing employees from seven to 29, including six apprentices, providing valuable training and skills for young locals.
“To further support this, I’m driving legislative change through the Electricity Industry Amendment Bill 2019, which includes provisions for the use of new technologies in Western Power’s network, specifically stand-alone power systems and energy storage devices.”
