Australian solar-plus-storage microgrid clears commissioning stage

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Construction near a naval base in West Australia kicked off in August 2017 (Credit: Carnegie)

A 2MW solar-plus-storage microgrid could soon launch commercial activities at a naval base in Western Australia after making it past the commissioning phase.

Once it receives the go-ahead to operate, the Garden Island project is to start supplying power to the nearby HMAS Stirling naval base under a deal with Australia’s Department of Defence, developer Carnegie Clean Energy said on Thursday this week.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“During the commissioning phase, the [micro-grid] system sent renewable power to the base network and has already shown its ability to deliver a reduction in Garden Island’s peak load,” the firm explained in its statement.

Work to build the microgrid on the Garden Island, just off the coast of Perth, kicked off in August 2017. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) helped fund construction with a AU$2.5 million (US$1.77 million) package, split between a AU$1.8 million convertible note and AU$700,000 in grant money.

On Garden Island, the microgrid will sit alongside other Carnegie projects including a desalination plant and the self-styled world’s first off-shore wave energy facility. The firm, formerly known as Carnegie Wave Energy, developed the latter under the ARENA-funded CETO 6 programme and through research carried out at an institute in Western Australia.

The pairing of energy storage with solar is an approach that comes with the explicit backing of Australia’s chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel. In 2017, he urged the government to enact obligations that would force renewable players to incorporate energy storage capacity – amongst other possible strategies – to bolster the security of Australia’s power system.

News on Garden Island comes as Carnegie works to deliver solar, energy storage and microgrid projects in Australia under a joint venture, signed on December 2016 by its subsidiary EMC [Energy Made Clean] and property group Lendlease.

Read Next

August 7, 2025
US residential solar installer Sunrun says it has positioned itself to continue generating strong financial returns after the passing of the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill'.
August 6, 2025
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced that three companies will receive AU$45.5 million (US$29.5 million) in funding through the Solar Sunshot Program.
August 1, 2025
Western Australia network operator Western Power has confirmed it has granted two more network connection offers to two new large-scale renewable energy projects, bringing its total for 2024/25 to 759MW.
July 28, 2025
Spanish energy firm Zelestra and Portuguese utility EDP have signed what they call the “first” solar-plus-storage power purchase agreement (PPA) in the Spanish renewables market.
July 25, 2025
The US state of New York expects to install 35GW of solar PV and 9.4GW of battery energy storage system (BESS) by 2040.
July 24, 2025
The Spanish Congress of Deputies has toppled the royal decree-law aimed at reforming the grid after the 28 April blackout, which affected the Iberian Peninsula.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines