Winners announced for WA Renewable Energy Technology Challenge

MPower Solar Systems has won the $50,000 first prize for developing a low-cost energy generation management unit which can be fitted to most renewable energy inverters. Runners-up Magellan Power (Bibra Lake) and Oztron Energy (Parkwood) were each awarded $10,000 for their respective innovations.

Fourteen energy management solutions were developed as part of the Western Australian government’s inaugural Renewable Energy Technology Challenge. Horizon Power supported the challenge, run by the Department of Commerce, in conjunction the Pilbara Development Commission.

MPower’s system uses a combination of inverter and small battery storage, and also provides some backup power to the system owner in times of electricity outage. Due to the increasing popularity of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, electricity companies including Horizon Power have faced difficulty maintaining network stability, particularly when these systems are affected by rapid changes as a result of weather conditions, according to MPower.

Manager Sales Marketing and Product Development Scott Davis said the winning solutions had different commercialisation schedules but that MPower Solar Systems’ technology should be available by the end of the year. “The 5 kW generation management solution will assist many of our customers to connect renewable energy systems that comply with our technical requirements in towns where hosting capacity has been reached,” he said.

“Horizon Power currently has 40 megawatts (MW) of available renewable energy hosting capacity available, with strong demand from regional customers for renewable energy to use this, and we are thrilled that we are able to support this demand through the Technology Challenge.”

Magellan Power has developed a solar smoother that utilises the latest generation of high-current lithium batteries as the storage elements, and connects these in parallel to the solar array using a bidirectional DC-DC converter to manage and smooth the PV power flow.

“We need to encourage our talented innovators and industry pioneers to continue enhancing the state’s commercial opportunities and international competitiveness,” said Commerce Minister Michael Mischin.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the innovations could lead to greater use of renewable energy within regional areas and the rest of WA. “With many of the state’s regional centres growing, maximising renewable energy use in rural and remote areas will become increasingly important,” Grylls said.

“Innovation in the energy sector is vital to the establishment of modern, vibrant and sustainable cities in the regions such as those being delivered through the Pilbara Cities vision.”