Two new power stations developed by Horizon Power in remote Western Australia at Marble Bar and Nullagine use innovative new technology to generate energy provided by the sun. The projects employ solar and diesel generation, combined with a flywheel energy storage system to ensure reliability and quality of power supply. It will also maximise utilisation of solar energy.

It includes the installation of ‘solar farms’ in Marble Bar and Nullagine to track the sun throughout the day.

A flywheel energy storage system will be used to store excess energy from the solar panels. The energy stored in the flywheel system will be used to stabilise power quality between the diesel power station and solar panels as well as covering solar radiation fluctuations.

The solar energy systems will generate over 1 GWh of renewable electricity per year, supplying over 60% of the towns’ daytime energy demand from sunlight.

This will save 35-40% of diesel and 1,100 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

Exhibit 1 - Solar – diesel – flywheel generation Project facts at a glance

The power stations will:

• Generate 1048 MWh of solar energy per year
• Provide 65% of day time energy demand from solar power
• Save 1119 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year
• Save between 35-40% diesel consumption per year (412,000 litres of fuel per year)
• Provides 35-40% of the annual energy for both towns