Hon Robin Chapple asks about the timeline for Horizon Power to allow renewable energy system connections in Denham, Exmouth, Marble Bar, Nullagine, and Kununurra. The answer reveals limitations due to network saturation, large solar farms, and commercial constraints, with varying solutions and timelines.

AnsweredQoN 469Legislative Council
Asked
15 August 2013
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

RENEWABLE
ENERGY — CARNARVON
469. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to the
answer to question without notice 355, asked on 6 August 2013.
When
will Horizon Power be able to offer customers in Denham, Exmouth, Marble Bar,
Nullagine and Kununurra the ability to connect renewable energy systems to
their grids?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
Connection
of new renewable energy systems in these five towns is dependent on different
factors. In Denham and Exmouth, the deployment of renewable energy generation
has saturated the network's capability to host any more renewable
energy systems, including solar systems. The risks of creating network
instability and power quality issues are now high. Horizon Power is looking at
energy storage and demand side management options to mitigate these risks,
though there is no firm timetable to permit any new connections.
In Marble
Bar and Nullagine, large solar farms are connected to the network in each town,
and produce 92 per cent of the energy available from renewable energy. Energy
storage is being considered to facilitate new connections, though no firm
timetable has been established.
In Kununurra–Wyndham,
renewable energy connections are currently restricted due to commercial
constraints. A technical solution is being developed that will allow customers
to connect renewable energy solutions for self-consumption only. This solution
is intended to be available to market by 1 July 2014.

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