Stand-alone power systems. SPS is an off-grid power solution, independent to the … Contact online >>
Stand-alone power systems. SPS is an off-grid power solution, independent to the
SPS is an off-grid power solution, independent to the main electricity grid, which generates, stores and delivers power to rural households and small businesses. It uses renewable energy via solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, inverter(s) and a backup diesel generator. We pay for the upfront cost of the unit and any ongoing costs associated with operation and maintenance, faults and replacement. Customers continue to be billed by their retailer at the same unit cost as a grid or network connected property.
An SPS is a self-sufficient off-grid power source. Energy is generated by the solar panels, powering the property and charging the batteries for use when the sun isn’t shining. A backup generator also kicks in when needed to keep energy flowing. The unit operates independently of the main electricity grid to store and deliver reliable power to a household or business.
90-95% of the SPS electricity comes from solar panels and stored solar energy in the battery.
In rural and remote areas, customers are serviced by powerlines that stretch over long distances. Using SPS instead of poles and wires on suitable properties and locations has a number of benefits, including:
After comprehensive feasibility evaluation, we will reach out to customers eligible for the SPS program.
Some of the things we consider when determining eligibility include:
The success of our SPS program has resulted in a strong interest from regional families and businesses who are keen to have SPS installed on their property. Currently, only customers who live on properties we’ve identified after a comprehensive feasibility evaluation are eligible. We proactively contact customers who meet the eligibility criteria.
We cover the cost of SPS installation, maintenance and replacement. This includes site visits and investigations, system installation and ongoing maintenance.
We design our SPS systems to cater for the standard supply of 63A, with up to 40A of inrush, as defined in the WASIR. Given the range of customer load & consumption requirements, we’ve designed our fleet to be modular and flexible, and can be scaled up or down.
Our initial customer engagement, site visit and review of historical consumption data is critical to provide us with the information we need to get the SPS sizing right. The nature, timing and duration of the load being used would impact the PV and battery capacity required for the system.
On days with significantly higher night time energy consumption than usual, or days with cloud cover, backup generation may be utilised. The design of the system is in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards (4509 & ASNSZ 3000) and a lifecycle assessment is used to identify the optimum mix of solar, battery storage and backup generation. We currently aim for greater than 90-95% of all energy to be generated from renewable sources.
A single SPS can supply a maximum of five customers, but this may vary depending on the capacity needs of each connection. However, in most cases due to energy requirements, distance between sites and available space, usually only one SPS is deployed per connection.
While SPS are installed in rural areas, they have significant flow-on benefits for customers in metropolitan and other built-up areas.
SPS operate like a mini-micro-grid, providing self-sufficient, renewable and reliable power on-site for a customer.The first Western Power SPS trial in 2016looked to understand how new technologies could be used to create renewable energy solutions that deliver improved power quality in a more cost-effective way. These learnings have been used to inform other energy technology developments across the grid.
SPS provides significant cost savings as they reduce the need for poles and wires infrastructure replacement and maintenance in remote areas. These savings are being reinvested back into the network, enabling the roll-out of more energy technology solutions likecommunity batteriesin Perth metro orrenewable microgridsin regional towns.
With technologies like SPS, our network is transforming. It is becoming moremodularwith localised energy solutions and more renewable integration, creating a smarter and more sustainable energy future for us all.
Discover how SPS in rural WA started a renewable energy transformation inmetro areas
If you require a new connection at your property within 10 years of poles and wires being decommissioned, we will connect your property in accordance with the Electricity Industry (Obligation to Connect) Regulations (2005). As the traditional overhead network will be decommissioned, any new connection at this location will be serviced by a SPS.
To ensure you are not disadvantaged by the removal of the overhead network, we will preserve the network equivalent connection costs for new connection applications for premises within 100 metres of the removed poles and wires, for a period of two years from the date of notification of our intention to decommission the network. This means, if you need a new connection at your property where network infrastructure is scheduled for removal or has already been removed, you will be able to receive that new connection at the lowest cost – either a network equivalent cost or SPS cost, whichever is lower. After the two-year period has expired, any new customers will be required to pay the full cost of an SPS connection.
The preservation of connection costs is attached to the land, not the customer. For example, in cases where an eligible customer decides to sell or subdivide their land, the new landowner(s) of the property or the subdivided land parcels are eligible for the preserved network connection costs if they have bought the property and applied for a new connection within two years of the customer communication regarding decommissioning being sent.
To be eligible to receive a new connection at the ‘lowest cost’ during this period, you will need to provide all relevant planning information (including, but not limited to, building permits, development plans and approvals or certified electrical loads) when applying for a new connection.
For more information, please contact us.
We want to keep you safe, so if we identify electrical equipment that is faulty or damaged while we’re on site you will need to fix it at your cost.
Common examples include damaged meter boards, faulty earth stakes, and dilapidated private power poles.
In instances where this poses an immediate and critical safety risk, we are required by law to disconnect your power at the meter. We provide a ‘Your Action Required’ pack detailing what needs to be fixed. Customers are required to rectify these issues at their cost and need to be fixed by a licensed electrical contractor before we can turn your power back on.
As a localised renewable technology solution,SPS provide self-sufficient powerto rural properties, businesses and locations where they are installed. This means we can remove the powerlines providing power to these properties once the SPS is commissioned. This reduces bushfire risk as long powerlines exposed to dust, debris, lightning and other environmental factors, pose a fire risk. As poles are de-energised, and then removed (decommissioned), this risk is eliminated.
SPS are asafer, greener and more reliable power supplyalternative for rural WA customers.
We’ll reach out to you if your connection has been identified as potentially suitable for SPS. A member of the SPS team will explain the program, its benefits and ask questions or send you a survey to help us understand how you use power.
Our team will then contact you to confirm if your connection has been selected to progress to a site visit to further investigate the suitability of the connection for SPS.
An advanced meter (AMI) will be installed to gather real-time data about your power usage. Once installed, we will analyse the data to get an accurate understanding of how and when you use power. This will provide valuable information to help us size and design the SPS.
Next, we’ll schedule a site visit to your property to gather more information about your power requirements. This important visit is where we assess your power needs and decide on a location for the SPS. Your input along with the advanced metering data will provide us with an accurate energy profile.
If we identify any faulty electrical equipment on your property or areas that require improvement during the site visit, you will be required to remedy this issue at your cost.
Call our 24-hour emergency line on 13 13 51 to report a fault or hazard. You’ll need to provide your property address, NMI or meter number. These details can all be found on your Synergy bill.
Although the risk of fire in an SPS is low it is always important to be prepared. In the event of a fire approaching, or suspected fire within the SPS area, please follow the below steps:
If safe to do so (outside the SPS enclosure), minimise the spread of a fire e.g., wetting down surrounding vegetation. Ensure you’re protected from any fumes.
As part of its regular maintenance, we are responsible for maintaining any vegetation within the SPS enclosure, we urge you to have other general fire mitigation measures in place to minimise risk. These include maintaining fire breaks, including surrounding the SPS enclosure, and updating your bushfire plans.
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