Converting Remote Islanded Communities into a 100% Renewable Energy Based Grid Incorporating Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage

An energy study of the Carnarvon power system using load demand, irradiance and photovoltaic generation data acquired from the power system operator, for calender year 2018, has been performed. This study utilised the HOMER Pro simulation system to determine photovoltaic and battery capacities to be applied to the Carnarvon power system to operate, without fuelled prime mover driven synchronous generation (FSG) input, over a 24 hour cycle given adequate irradiation. This goal is realised by using a metric that balances competing mechanisms in deciding PV and battery storage capacities. The metric calculation resulted in capacities of 35MW for PV and 90MWhr for battery storage, resulting in a renewable energy fraction of 96.2 %, 589 hours of FSG operation and levelised cost of energy (LCoE) of 47.6c/kWhr. Power ratio and storage ratio give dimensionless quantities for PV and storage sizes relative to load demand. These values can estimate PV and battery capacities for similar systems in similar environments to achieve comparable outcomes. The determined capacity of 35MW of PV is assumed to be all roof-top installed. This is based on roof-top potential estimates, made in other work, of 70MW for Carnarvon.