The Perenjori Shire PV Project

The Shire of Perenjori, located approximately 350 kilometres north of Perth, is a farming, grazing and mining region in which the electricity load is projected to increase to support future industrial development. The Shire currently has poor quality power as it is located on the fringe of the SWIS, more than 500 km from the major power stations at Collie. The capacity to supply additional electricity to the area is constrained by the local electricity network in the area. One proposal that has been put forward to supply additional electricity is a very large photovoltaic (VLPV) system located within the Shire. Prime Solar Ltd has proposed construction of a 10 MW solar system to reinforce the local grid. The Shire has provided funding to support Prime Solar further develop its proposal and to prepare and submit an application to the government for funding support for the project through the Commonwealth Government’s Renewable Remote Area Power Generation Program (RRPGP). The RRPGP is administered in Western Australia on the Commonwealth’s behalf by the Office of Energy, which is currently developing guidelines for providing funding through the RRPGP for medium-sized renewable energy projects located on the fringes of the grid in Western Australia. Murdoch University, through RISE, has been commissioned by Prime Solar and the Perenjori Shire to assist with the project. Its role will be to provide assistance with the design, optimisation, testing and monitoring of any renewable energy systems installed. Professor Phillip Jennings is managing RISE’s involvement. A pre-feasibility assessment of the site was undertaken as a student project.

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