Photon Energy launches revolutionary solar storage system in Australia

Sydney / Berlin, November 2014 In a ground breaking move, BAI’sMuswellbrook broadcast tower will turn its back on traditionalenergy, going off-grid to run entirely on solar power thanks to theintroduction of advanced battery storage technology. New SouthWales‘ Parliamentry Secretary for the Environment MP LeslieWilliams, has a keen interest in the project and will attend thesystem launch on 7 November. 

Photon Energy has designed and delivered the project inassociation with the German Energy Agency, Deutsche Energie-AgenturGmbH (dena), and the Australian communications infrastructurecompany BAI using predominantly German technology. 

Set to become a benchmark for providing a complete power supplyfor remote locations, the pilot project ensures solar power iscaptured via 216 kWh of battery storage during daylight hours,enabling a constant 24 hour power supply to the commercialsite.

MP Leslie Williams believes “Thisinnovative and smart project demonstrates what is possible in NSWwith our abundant renewable energy resources.   This projectbrings us closer to achieving our goal of secure, affordable andclean energy future for households and businesses in NSW.”

BAI Group CEO, Jim Hassell, believes theproject is a big step forward for the sector. “Primarily usedfor local radio broadcast, the Muswellbrook tower is also reliedupon by local emergency services for communications duringbushfires and floods. The high quality of the German-engineeredtechnology provides the reliability required in remote areas. BAIis excited to be at the forefront of integrating this advancedtechnology into the communications sector” said Hassell.

Ultimately the test site demonstrates renewable energy canprovide genuine savings for corporations running remote sites inAustralia. BAI is considering a network-wide roll out of thetechnology across Australia.

Photon Energy Australia Managing Director MichaelGartner added, “Our vision is to take infrastructureoff-grid with highly reliable solar power and battery storage. Notonly does the storage technology provide off-grid power or removegrid reliance in the areas where the grid costs the most, but itdoes this cost-effectively and without fossil fuel emissions. Thesystem has been designed to be rugged and reliable with the choiceof the highest quality Australian outback tested Q CELLS solarpanels, SMA inverters and BAE batteries to provide maximum powerand longevity in the toughest Australian conditions.”

KEY INFORMATION:

• The photovoltaic array produces enough solar energy to power7.3 average Australian households for a year.
• The 216 kWh of batteries can store enough energy to run theMuswellbrook antenna for up to 43 hours or enough energy for anelectric passenger car to drive from Sydney to Melbourne andback.
• If all chargers run at 100%, the batteries will fully charge infive hours and 32 minutes.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

This project is part of the worldwide dena Renewable EnergySolutions Program coordinated by Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH(dena) - the German Energy Agency - and co-financed by the GermanFederal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) within theinitiative “renewables – Made in Germany“.

The telecom tower will be powered by mostly ‘Made in Germany’components;  a 39 kWp solar power installation using 216 kWhof batteries and a 8 kVA diesel back-up system for emergencies. Thetechnology – 156 Q CELLS Q-PRO G3 255Wp solar panels, 72 BAE SecuraPVV 2V 1500 Ah batteries (supplied by R+J batteries), 3 SMA 8.0HSunny Island inverters and Photon Energy 24/7 monitoringsystem.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

AUSTRALIA: 
Elyse Dudgeon,elyse.dudgeon@digandfish.com: 0417 590 190
Robert Ibrahim, robert.ibrahim@photonenergy.com: 0423 688 337

GLOBAL:
Jan Krcmar,jan.krcmar@photonenergy.com:  +420 773 032 182