Stand-alone power systems
SPS is an off-grid power solution, independent to the main electricity grid, which generates, stores and delivers power to rural households and small businesses. It uses renewable energy via solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, inverter(s) and a backup diesel generator. We pay for the upfront cost of the unit and any ongoing costs associated with operation and maintenance, faults and replacement. Customers continue to be billed by their retailer at the same unit cost as a grid or network connected property.
An SPS is a self-sufficient off-grid power source. Energy is generated by the solar panels, powering the property and charging the batteries for use when the sun isn’t shining. A backup generator also kicks in when needed to keep energy flowing. The unit operates independently of the main electricity grid to store and deliver reliable power to a household or business.
90-95% of the SPS electricity comes from solar panels and stored solar energy in the battery.
In rural and remote areas, customers are serviced by powerlines that stretch over long distances. Using SPS instead of poles and wires on suitable properties and locations has a number of benefits, including:
- Improved power reliability: as power is generated on-site, customers can expect up to 90% less power outages.
- Removing overhead network: powerlines will be removed once all properties on the connecting spur have been converted to SPS, allowing us to decommission the overhead network in this area.
- Bushfire risk reductionlowers bushfire risks in rural areas.
- Lowering emissions: 90-95% of the SPS electricity comes from solar panels and the stored solar energy in the battery.Modular and adaptable: SPS units come in different sizes so they can be adapted to suit a customer’s power needs.
- Small footprint: An SPS enclosure requires a small footprint, typically, meaning reliable power, using the smallest possible space.
- Innovation: SPS plays a key role in our strategy to develop a modular grid , which will create a more renewable and greener energy future for WA. Learn more about this innovation and how it’s positioned WA as a world leader in renewable SPS technology.
After comprehensive feasibility evaluation, we will reach out to customers eligible for the SPS program.
Some of the things we consider when determining eligibility include:
- The location of the customer and whether they’re on an isolated line or part of a small groups of customers located on the edge of the grid
- Network reliability in the area
- When the network assets in the area are due for replacement
- The cost of replacing network assets compared with providing SPS to these properties
- The topography of the area, and
- Existing network maintenance requirements.
The success of our SPS program has resulted in a strong interest from regional families and businesses who are keen to have SPS installed on their property. Currently, only customers who live on properties we’ve identified after a comprehensive feasibility evaluation are eligible. We proactively contact customers who meet the eligibility criteria.
We cover the cost of SPS installation, maintenance and replacement. This includes site visits and investigations, system installation and ongoing maintenance.
We design our SPS systems to cater for the standard supply of 63A, with up to 40A of inrush, as defined in the WASIR. Given the range of customer load & consumption requirements, we’ve designed our fleet to be modular and flexible, and can be scaled up or down.
SPS sizing is based on:
- a detailed review of the customer’s historical consumption data, and where available advanced metering (AMI) data
- a site inspection
- the customer’s approved future plans.
Our initial customer engagement, site visit and review of historical consumption data is critical to provide us with the information we need to get the SPS sizing right. The nature, timing and duration of the load being used would impact the PV and battery capacity required for the system.
On days with significantly higher night time energy consumption than usual, or days with cloud cover, backup generation may be utilised. The design of the system is in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards (4509 & ASNSZ 3000) and a lifecycle assessment is used to identify the optimum mix of solar, battery storage and backup generation. We currently aim for greater than 90-95% of all energy to be generated from renewable sources.
A single SPS can supply a maximum of five customers, but this may vary depending on the capacity needs of each connection. However, in most cases due to energy requirements, distance between sites and available space, usually only one SPS is deployed per connection.
While SPS are installed in rural areas, they have significant flow-on benefits for customers in metropolitan and other built-up areas.
SPS operate like a mini-micro-grid, providing self-sufficient, renewable and reliable power on-site for a customer. The first Western Power SPS trial in 2016 looked to understand how new technologies could be used to create renewable energy solutions that deliver improved power quality in a more cost-effective way. These learnings have been used to inform other energy technology developments across the grid.
SPS provides significant cost savings as they reduce the need for poles and wires infrastructure replacement and maintenance in remote areas. These savings are being reinvested back into the network, enabling the roll-out of more energy technology solutions like community batteries in Perth metro or renewable microgrids in regional towns.
With technologies like SPS, our network is transforming. It is becoming more modular with localised energy solutions and more renewable integration, creating a smarter and more sustainable energy future for us all.
Discover how SPS in rural WA started a renewable energy transformation in metro areas
If you require a new connection at your property within 10 years of poles and wires being decommissioned, we will connect your property in accordance with the Electricity Industry (Obligation to Connect) Regulations (2005). As the traditional overhead network will be decommissioned, any new connection at this location will be serviced by a SPS.
To ensure you are not disadvantaged by the removal of the overhead network, we will preserve the network equivalent connection costs for new connection applications for premises within 100 metres of the removed poles and wires, for a period of two years from the date of notification of our intention to decommission the network. This means, if you need a new connection at your property where network infrastructure is scheduled for removal or has already been removed, you will be able to receive that new connection at the lowest cost – either a network equivalent cost or SPS cost, whichever is lower. After the two-year period has expired, any new customers will be required to pay the full cost of an SPS connection.
The preservation of connection costs is attached to the land, not the customer. For example, in cases where an eligible customer decides to sell or subdivide their land, the new landowner(s) of the property or the subdivided land parcels are eligible for the preserved network connection costs if they have bought the property and applied for a new connection within two years of the customer communication regarding decommissioning being sent.
To be eligible to receive a new connection at the ‘lowest cost’ during this period, you will need to provide all relevant planning information (including, but not limited to, building permits, development plans and approvals or certified electrical loads) when applying for a new connection.
For more information, please contact us.
We want to keep you safe, so if we identify electrical equipment that is faulty or damaged while we’re on site you will need to fix it at your cost.
Common examples include damaged meter boards, faulty earth stakes, and dilapidated private power poles.
In instances where this poses an immediate and critical safety risk, we are required by law to disconnect your power at the meter. We provide a ‘Your Action Required’ pack detailing what needs to be fixed. Customers are required to rectify these issues at their cost and need to be fixed by a licensed electrical contractor before we can turn your power back on.
As a localised renewable technology solution, SPS provide self-sufficient power to rural properties, businesses and locations where they are installed. This means we can remove the powerlines providing power to these properties once the SPS is commissioned. This reduces bushfire risk as long powerlines exposed to dust, debris, lightning and other environmental factors, pose a fire risk. As poles are de-energised, and then removed (decommissioned), this risk is eliminated.
SPS are a safer, greener and more reliable power supply alternative for rural WA customers.