Power and Water’s Solar Energy Transformation Program (SETuP) has hit an important milestone, with the remote community of Titjikala being powered by 83 per cent renewable energy following the installation of a solar array and battery energy storage system (BESS) as part of the program.
Titjikala has a 400KW solar array, integrated with a 300kVA (970KWh) battery energy storage system, and is one of 25 communities part of the Power and Water Solar Energy Transformation Program (SETuP).
Home to 200 residents, the rural community of Titjikala, approximately 130km south of Alice Springs was solely powered by renewable energy for an average of 20 hours per day during September 2023.
The SETuP program is the largest isolated off-grid solar program in remote communities and has enabled significant savings on diesel and transport costs.
SETuP integrates 10MW of solar in remote communities, to transition to a renewable energy future and reduce reliance on diesel fuel.
Battery energy storage system technology enables the storage of excess solar energy and allows diesel engines to be turned off during the daytime.
Once the battery energy storage system is depleted, the diesel engines will start again overnight.
The $59 million program is co-funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Installation of the battery energy storage system was funded by the Northern Territory Government and commissioned in March 2021.
Northern Territory Minister for Renewables, Nicole Manison, said that the Titjikala community was a great remote renewable energy success story, which now has safe, reliable and environmentally friendly power.
“The Northern Territory Government wants a future powered by renewable energy, creating green jobs and driving down emissions.
“With our abundant solar resources, we can create permanent and stable energy solutions that decarbonise our regional and remote areas,” Ms Manison said.
