Wurrumiyanga set to be powered by 50 per cent renewables from new solar farm by 2024

Construction is under way on a project which will provide 50 per cent renewable energy to the community by 2024.

The Tiwi Islands is one step closer to a renewables future with construction under way at the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project, powering the community by 50% renewable energy.

The $6.1 million solar farm will deliver 1.2 megawatts of additional solar PV and a Battery Energy Storage System with a capacity of 3 megawatt hours, powering the community by 50 per cent renewable energy.

Renewables Minister Nicole Manison said the pilot program was an important step towards achieving the government’s goal of 50 per cent renewables by 2030.

“We will keep doing the hard work as we push towards our target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050,” she said.

“A renewables future is now one step closer for the Wurrumiyanga community and we look forward to extending the lessons learnt from this project to other remote Territory communities.”

The 5B solar farm at Wurrumiyanga Tiwi Islands NT. Picture: Supplied

Arafura MLA Manuel Brown said the project would change the lives of Wurrumiyanga’s 2000 residents by providing clean and reliable energy.

“It is great to see our largest community on Bathurst Island driving down emissions and creating stable, reliable energy in line with the rest of the Territory,” he said.

“Soon we will see less and less communities around the NT rely on diesel powered generators through Territory Labor’s remote power system strategy, a strategy which is changing lives in our most remote communities.”

The project is being delivered by Australian solar company 5B who have currently completed earthworks and the installation of cyclone-resilient solar arrays.

Member for Arafura Manuel at the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project. Picture: Supplied

5B Chief Strategy Officer Nicole Kuepper-Russell said the company would be using infrastructure specifically designed for the Tiwi’s climate.

“Our latest generation high-wind resilient 5B Maverick – wind rated up to 72 metres per second – is specifically designed for cyclone prone regions like the Tiwi Islands,” she said.

“It is also fast to deploy in remote regions, a deployment team of four unfolded the 1.2 MW 5B solar farm on Bathurst Island in just four days, with mechanical installation, including unpacking, staging, cabling, the extra anchoring required for wind region C and clean up, taking less than two weeks.”

5B will also renew the community’s existing energy system, including ageing diesel infrastructure and dated solar PV technology.

The project is on track to be completed and operational by 2024 and follows the remote community of Tjitkala, south of Alice Springs which was recently powered by 83 per cent renewable energy.

Originally published as Wurrumiyanga set to be powered by 50 per cent renewables from new solar farm by 2024