EDL’s Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Project wins Solar Power Project of the Year – Australia at the 2022 Asian Power Awards

EDL has won the 2022 Asian Power Awards’ Solar Power Project of the Year – Australia in recognition of its successful Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Project in the Northern Territory, Australia.

EDL CEO James Harman said that it was an honour for the EDL team to be recognised for the project’s success, which integrates a 3.9MW solar farm with a 3MW/5MWh battery and 4.5MW diesel generation. The project is the Northern Territory’s highest renewable penetration microgrid of its scale.

“The Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Project provides a sustainable model for remote communities to reduce dependence on expensive fossil fuels and is a blueprint for isolated off-grid communities seeking a reliable, clean energy solution. Relatively poor energy reliability in remote communities undermines quality of life and limits growth and investment opportunities. Our new power station offers Jabiru’s 1,000 residents equitable access to 99.99% reliable energy.

“This project supports Jabiru in becoming a tourism hub for the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park by delivering reliable, sustainable and equitable energy to the town.”

The Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Power Station is the fourth successful hybrid renewable project delivered by EDL since 2017. Since the power station was switched on in February 2022, it has drawn on 100% solar energy to supply Jabiru during the day. The battery stores the excess solar energy produced to extend renewable energy penetration beyond daylight hours. This enables the power station to deliver more than 50% renewable energy.

Jabiru has decreased its diesel consumption by approximately 1.7 million litres per year, significantly reducing its carbon footprint and exposure to volatile fuel prices. Converting Jabiru’s previous 100% fossil-fuelled electricity supply to hybrid renewable energy abates 6,000 tonnes of CO2-e, per year, which is comparable to removing 1,600 cars off the road annually. This enables Jabiru to contribute towards the Northern Territory Government’s efforts to achieve its target of 50% renewable energy by 2030.

The power station has a modular design that will enable future expansions as Jabiru grows or new technologies emerge to provide even higher renewable energy penetration. Learnings from the project could substantially benefit seven million people who live in rural and remote Australia (28% of the population), and more worldwide.

Click here for more information about the project.