Driving Decarbonisation: WA’s First Solar Battery Hybrid Generator for METRONET Construction
Driving Decarbonisation: WA’s First Solar Battery Hybrid Generator for METRONET Construction
MELconnx’s own solar farm and the first solar battery hybrid generator in Western Australia was delivered to Whiteman Park site in August 2022 and has been used to power the construction site and reduce diesel generator use significantly due to the inability to connect the site to the grid.
To date the generator has generated over 53,000kWh of energy and saved around ~45,000 litres of diesel during construction. This is estimated to be 149 tCO2 saved when compared to BAU diesel generators only, which is equivalent to around 31 diesel & petrol cars off the road for a year.
Due to program changes and night shifts starting, the team upgraded the battery size from 45kVA to 90kVA. The current system consists of:
- 44kW of Solar (2 x Mini Mav modules) – Rapid Deployable Solar System, designed and built in Australia.
- 90kVA/75kWh BESS LX – imported from the UK, with proprietary upgrades.
- 110kVA Generator – fitted with remote start module to communicate with the Hybrid System.
Challenges and outcomes
Challenges:
- The Whiteman Park site was not scheduled to undertake double shifting (night works) and the battery and generator were not sized to accommodate this increase in energy load. As such, there have been some issues with short blackouts during winter months.
- The Project is looking to upgrade the size of the battery and generator to eliminate this issue.
Environmental Benefits:
- Estimated diesel savings of 45,000 litres.
- Estimated CO2-e reduction of 149 tonnes, equating to 31 cars off the road.
- Significant savings of diesel and emissions associated with load banking (maintenance), especially when generators are over-sized.
- Reduced risk of environmental spill hazards due to significant reduction in refuelling.
Health and Safety Benefits:
- Diesel fumes are known for causing health problems such as asthma, headache, nausea, and lung irritation; removing these from near the site cribs has great health benefits for the workforce.
- Health and Safety improvements through significant reduction of diesel refuelling and associated generator maintenance.
- Greater reliability of power as the HPS is ‘off grid’; not subject to power disruptions.
- Reduces potential health hazards to the surrounding community as reduced air and noise pollution from BAU diesel generator equipment and associated emissions can impact nearby residents.
Financial Benefits:
- Significant opex cost reduction in diesel use and maintenance.
- Less refuelling and contractor visits to site.
- Significant decrease in maintenance activities.
Awards & Recognition:
- Innovation presented at the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s WA Symposium 2023.
- Recognised by ISC as a Western Australian first innovation.
Lessons Learnt:
- The need to size battery and generator for increased energy load due to night works.
- Close collaboration with suppliers to ensure installation methodologies and risk assessments meet high standards.
- Successful implementation has led to the mandate of these systems across Laing O’Rourke sites where grid connection is not possible.
Next steps
- The Project is looking to upgrade the size of the battery and generator to eliminate issues with short blackouts during winter months.
- Lessons learnt will be carried forward to other projects and implemented into supply chain practices and installation methods to improve HSE outcomes.
- Methodologies, savings, and benefits of the system have been shared with the wider construction industry.
