Senvion, a leading global manufacturer of wind turbines, has signed a contract with EDL to supply wind energy to Coober Pedy’s hybrid micro-grid.

In addition to two Senvion MM92 turbines from the company’s two-megawatt (MW) portfolio, the project will also use a unique combination of solar and battery storage to reduce Coober Pedy’s reliance on diesel fuel.

Construction of the project will start in September 2016, with commercial operations expected to commence in the second half of 2017. The nacelle and rotor blades will be manufactured at Senvion’s factories in Portugal.

Chris Judd, Managing Director of Senvion Australia, said: “Wind energy can play a very important role in helping remote communities and industries reduce their reliance on expensive fuels. This pioneering micro-grid project will demonstrate what can be achieved in remote applications – not just in Australia, but also the rest of the world.”

Due to its innovative nature, the project has secured $18.4 million funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). ARENA’s CEO Ivor Frishknecht said: “This is a next-generation off-grid project, taking advantage of advanced renewable and enabling technologies that have already been successfully trialled at off-grid locations such as King Island.”

To date, Senvion has installed 215 wind turbines from the Senvion two-megawatt series with a cumulated rated power of over 437 MW in Australia. Senvion Australia Pty. Ltd. was founded in August 2002 as a joint venture between Australian companies Downer Engineering, R.F. Industries and Senvion GmbH of Germany. Senvion Australia Pty. Ltd. is the exclusive distributor of Senvion wind turbine technology in Australia, New Zealand and the Southern Pacific Region.