High Penetration Renewables in Remote Power Stations

Remote communities are often the most energy-vulnerable — yet they are also uniquely positioned to lead the renewable transition.

For more than 30 years, EDL has powered off-grid locations across Australia, delivering tailored energy solutions to communities and industry. Many of these sites are not connected to the main grid and have traditionally relied on diesel or gas generation to maintain electricity supply.

Today, the challenge is clear: How can remote power stations transition to high penetration — and even 100% — renewable energy while maintaining 99.99% reliability?

From Hybrid to 100% Renewable Pathways

Since 2017, EDL has delivered hybrid renewable microgrids that integrate solar, wind, battery storage, and thermal generation to support reliable off-grid power systems.

At Coober Pedy in South Australia, a hybrid renewable microgrid supplies an average of more than 70% renewable energy, achieving 99.99% reliability for this remote mining town.

In Western Australia, the 56MW Agnew hybrid renewable microgrid powers Gold Fields’ Agnew Gold Mine with more than 50% renewable energy over the long term, without compromising power quality or operational stability.

These projects demonstrate that high renewable penetration is not just technically feasible — it is operationally dependable.

Transitioning Existing Fossil-Fuelled Power Stations

This study was supported in part by the Western Australian Government through the Renewable Hydrogen Fund.

Key focus areas include:

• System stability at high renewable penetration
• Grid-forming inverters and advanced controls
• Storage optimisation and dispatch strategies
• Hydrogen integration pathways
• Economic modelling and long-term cost viability

Why This Matters

Remote communities and industrial operations are accelerating their clean energy ambitions. However, reliability remains non-negotiable — especially where mining operations, essential services, and isolated populations depend entirely on local generation.

Achieving 99.99% reliability with high penetration renewables requires:

• Advanced system integration
• Whole-of-system design thinking
• Strong operational modelling
• Careful balance between resilience and affordability

This is more than an energy transition. It is a systems engineering challenge — and a demonstration that decarbonisation and reliability can coexist.

The future of remote power is not diesel-dependent. It is hybrid, intelligent, and increasingly renewable.

How can we accelerate 100% renewable transitions in other remote regions?

#RenewableEnergy #Microgrids #RemotePower #EnergyTransition #SustainableEngineering #HybridSystems #HydrogenEnergy