Hydro Tasmania opens first stage of King Island renewable energy project

Australia-based Hydro Tasmania has commissioned the first stage of the $46m King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP) in Tasmania. The project seeks to supply renewable energy to remote areas, using a mix of existing and new technologies.

The facility is being developed by Hydro Tasmania in association with the Australian Government's Renewable Energy Demonstration Program and the Tasmanian Government.

The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2013.

Hydro Tasmania chairman Dr David Crean said that the project aimed to reduce the use of diesel in power generation by 65% and meet King Island's power needs through renewable sources. will increase the use of renewable energy and will reduce the credit on diesel for power generation in off-grid systems across the world.

"The unique part of this system is the integration of technologies. Although the renewable generation sources such as wind, solar and bio-diesel are mature, the enabling and storage technologies are new and emerging," he added.

Hydro Tasmania CEO Roy Adair said the King Island project is the first remote system that has the capacity to meet the energy needs of an entire community through wind and solar energy.

The demonstration centre established at the King Island Advance Hybrid Power Station enables the company to offer the technology globally, he added.

Hydro Tasmania plans to export the remote system technology to utility and mining customers in Australia, the Pacific and the South East Asia region.

The aim of KIREIP is to reduce diesel consumption for power generation by more than 65 per cent and provide for the ability to generate all of King Island's power needs using renewable energy when conditions allow," added Crean.