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Pathway to sustainability: The Lady Elliot Island hybrid solar power station

conference contribution
posted on 2023-05-23, 08:19 authored by Gash, P, Steven CarterSteven Carter, Miller, W

The Lady Elliot Island eco-resort, on the Great Barrier Reef, operates with a strong sustainability ethic, and has broken away from its reliance on diesel generators, an initiative which has ongoing and substantial economic benefit. The first step was an energy audit that led to a 35% reduction in energy usage, to an average of 575 kWh per day. The eco-resort then commissioned a hybrid solar power station, in 2008, with energy storage in battery banks. Solar power is currently (2013) providing about 160 kWh of energy per day, and the eco-resort’s diesel fuel usage has decreased from 550 to 100 litres per day, enabling the power station to pay for itself in 3 years. The eco-resort plans to complete its transition to renewable energy by 2015, by installing additional solar panels, and a 10-15 kW wind turbine.

This paper starts by discussing why the eco-resort chose a hybrid solar power station to transition to renewable energy, and the barriers to change. It then describes the power station, upgrades through to 2013, the power control system, the problems that were solved to realise the potential of a facility operating in a harsh and remote environment, and its performance. The paper concludes by outlining other eco-resort sustainability practices, including education and knowledge-sharing initiatives, and monitoring the island’s environmental and ecological condition.

History

Publication title

Proceedings of Sustainable Engineering Society (SENG) 2013 conference

Editors

A Piani

Pagination

23-31

ISBN

9781922107107

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Engineers Australia

Place of publication

Barton, ACT

Event title

Sustainable Engineering Society (SENG) 2013 conference

Event Venue

Barton, ACT

Date of Event (Start Date)

2013-09-18

Date of Event (End Date)

2013-09-20

Rights statement

Copyright 2013 Engineers Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Solar-photovoltaic energy

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

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