renewables
BlueScope Steel’s project integrates solar PV modules into the roofs of homes.
usually accepted in the commercial market. And by ensuring these early projects get off Laing O’Rourke’s redeployable solar hybrid power plant can be packed up and moved as needed.
the ground, ARENA reduces perceived risk, builds partnerships, attracts investors and increases local knowledge and expertise.
Even though the sector has stopped rapidly
One of the factors that make renewable
expanding as it moves into operational phase,
energy expensive is that projects of this kind
ARENA plays a unique role in funding the
depressed commodity prices and increased
have not been done before in Australia, or only
projects and sharing the knowledge that will
energy costs have made renewable energy
on a few occasions. Lack of relevant skills
hasten the arrival of Australia’s energy future.
solutions more competitive and attractive.
and local experience in building and operating
The agency is constantly on the lookout to
ARENA is supporting several projects that
renewable energy installations means higher
add new projects for its portfolio and is cur-
involve mining operations or have application
interest rates, higher supply chain costs and
rently accepting applications for a number of
to mining sites. One innovative example is a
big construction contingency margins. ARENA
programs. To find out more, visit arena.gov.
redeployable solar-hybrid farm that can be
helps overcome this early mover disadvantage
au/initiatives-and-programmes/.
packed up and moved in containers when a
by providing support to technology developers
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
mining operation moves to a new location.
over time frames that are longer than those
www.arena.gov.au
Latest project: Batteries trial to put storage on the front foot A new Canberra-based storage trial will examine whether lithium-
“Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly used in electric
ion batteries could enhance electricity grids and increase the
vehicles and consumer electronics, giving them great po-
use of renewable energy.
tential for future cost reductions compared to other storage
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) CEO Ivor Frischknecht said IT Power (ITP) would carry out the trial, supported by $450,000 of ARENA funding. “ITP will analyse the performance of six major lithium-ion battery brands, comparing them to existing and advanced leadacid battery technologies to investigate how they could operate in large and small electricity grids,” Frischknecht said. “Storage is important for allowing more renewable energy to be
technologies,” Frischknecht said. “ITP is building a test facility at the Canberra Institute of Technology to put each battery through its paces with repeated charge and discharge cycles simulating real-world applications and Australian environmental conditions. “The findings will be shared broadly across the energy industry with investors, power companies and researchers in line with ARENA’s commitment to knowledge sharing.”
used in Australia on-grid and off-grid by smoothing out energy supply.
ITP Managing Director Simon Troman said conventional bat-
“Power companies could, for example, consider renewable
tery storage had been used to optimise the design of remote
energy based on mini-grids with storage as an alternative to
power systems for many years.
maintaining sections of the main grid that currently run at a loss.”
“Recent reductions in the cost of lithium-ion batteries coupled
Frischknecht said the testing in a controlled environment would
with potentially significant performance advantages warrant
result in a greater understanding of various storage technologies and how they can best be adopted as they begin to compete with lead-acid batteries on cost and reliability.
10 Sustainability Matters - Jun/Jul 2015
serious testing of this new storage option,” Troman said. The trial will proceed for three years and is scheduled for completion in June 2018.
www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au