Solar access will be expanded throughout regional Western Australia with Horizon Power’s Smart Connect Solar technology now available in Carnarvon.
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Smart Connect Solar technology uses a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) management system that enables the coordination of high levels of solar energy on the network, which will enable thousands of additional customers in Carnarvon to install rooftop solar while maintaining network safety and stability.
This will eliminate solar installation capacity constraints in Carnarvon and other towns and enable more customers throughout regional WA to access rooftop solar.
In 2019, Horizon Power became the first Australian utility to deploy the technology in a regional microgrid, using it to coordinate customer solar with utility-owned renewables to help power the town of Onslow.
It was also able to use the system to power the town with 100% renewables for approximately 80 minutes.
Smart Connect Solar will be deployed to all of Horizon Power’s service areas, including the Pilbara, Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid West and Goldfields regions, by the end of 2024.
Horizon Power CEO Stephanie Unwin said, “We are excited to launch Smart Connect Solar into Carnarvon, the first town in the roll out of this innovative technology to our customers across regional Western Australia.
“Our customers are an integral part of our future energy systems, and we are committed to bringing all of them along on this clean energy transition journey.
“Overcoming the technical barriers that prevented more customer renewable energy generation is a significant milestone. It means more of our customers now have access to solar and can reap the benefits of renewable energy, including reduced energy bills.
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“The system will also improve stability and therefore reliability of the electricity network, while supporting the state government’s carbon emission goals and our 2025 target of zero refusals when connecting solar.”
