Hybrid PV – Battery-Hydrogen System for Microgrids (Archived)

September 5th, 2023

Hybrid PV – Battery-Hydrogen System for Microgrids

A feasibility study investigated a renewables-based stand-alone microgrid with hybrid hydrogen-battery-based energy storage for an indigenous community in the Pilbara.

Main proponents:

Murdoch University

 Main end-use classification:

Microgrid / regional applications

 Status:

Under development – study completed

 Estimated cost:

 
Other involvement:

 

 Production details:

 

 Location:

Western Australia, Australia

 Announced funding:

AUD$75,000 – Western Australian Government Renewable Hydrogen Fund (feasibility study)

Project description

Murdoch University conducted a feasibility study into a stand-alone power system for an indigenous community in the Pilbara using 100 per cent renewable energy.  The study evaluated a stand-alone microgrid with a hybrid hydrogen-battery-based energy storage system through a partnership approach with local communities. It is intended that the approach developed could be transferrable to other regions of Western Australia or ‘exported’ to regional developing island states.

Preliminary studies indicate that a 100% renewable energy stand-alone power system can be achieved for the two studied locations in the Pilbara region using a resilient hydrogen-battery storage system (for both the studied sites) though implementation costs for the overall system are high. The sites evaluated serve as representative sites for other similar communities in Western Australia.

A key aim of the study was to support an investment decision for a pilot project implementation in the Pilbara region.

The Feasibility Study investigating the viability of a 100% Renewable Energy based Stand Alone Microgrid, with a hybrid-battery-hydrogen storage system for remote communities in the Pilbara Region (considering social, economic and environment benefits), was published in August 2023.

Milestones:

January 2020: The feasibility study for this project is one of seven feasibility studies to which funds were allocated in January 2020 by the Western Australian government under its Renewable Hydrogen Fund.

 

Archived: September 2023