Australian town powered with 100% renewable energy using microgrid

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
The solar function of the microgrid used by Horizon Power and PXiSE. Image: Horizon Power.

Horizon Power and PXiSE Energy Solutions have successfully powered the Australian town of Onslow solely using renewable energy, demonstrating the potential of microgrid technology.

Full renewable power provision was achieved for 80 minutes using a distributed energy resource system (DERMS), which uses predictive analytics to maximise the amount of renewable energy used in the microgrid while maintaining network stability.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

It is the first time DERMS have been used for this purpose in Australia and further testing will continue to increase understanding of the potential of the technology before functionality is commissioned later this year.

The technology has “broad applications for the world at large,” said PXiSE Energy Solutions CEO Patrick Lee. “The DERMS and microgrid-facilitated hydrocarbon-free period in Onslow demonstrates the possibility for certain communities to run solely on solar plus battery storage,” he added.

Read Next

October 10, 2025
Australia's renewable energy sector recorded its slowest month of the year for additions in September, with 5.8GW of new projects added to development pipelines, according to data from Rystad Energy.
October 9, 2025
The Australian government has announced the results of the fourth Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) tender, with 6.6GW of renewables awarded long-term contracts.
October 8, 2025
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has granted planning approval for Potentia Energy's 500MW Tallawang solar-plus-storage project.
Premium
October 8, 2025
PV Talk: Smart Energy Council's Nigel Morris reflects on how Australia has become a global testbed for distributed solar and storage innovation.
October 8, 2025
University of Sydney scientists have created the largest and most efficient triple-junction perovskite-perovskite-silicon solar cell on record.
October 8, 2025
Australia's NEM achieved a new minimum operational demand record of 9,666MW, marking a 4% decrease from the previous record.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
October 21, 2025
New York, USA
Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK