Mt Moobi Solar PV Farm

Photovoltaic literally means ‘electricity-from-light’. One of the major advantages of solar photovoltaic (PV) when compared to other concentrated solar technologies is that it produces electricity directly from sunlight and does not use large amounts of water or require heavy infrastructure (steam turbines, cooling towers etc) for generation of electricity. In fact a Solar PV array doesn’t use any water at all for generation of electricity.

Solar PV is also modular and scalable meaning it can be readily combined with other renewable generators, which reduces overall connection costs for the Energy Park, increases the efficiency and reliability of supply and improves grid stability. Being modular means that solar PV arrays can be quite easily installed where the energy is used, reducing losses from transporting energy over large distances.

Integrating large scale solar PV with other renewable technologies is an important factor in reducing overall capital costs, and increasing reliability and consistency of renewable supply from the Energy Park.

Therefore solar PV systems can significantly reduce operational costs and also reduce environmental considerations associated with larger solar thermal systems.

Australia is a leader in the research and development of the most efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) cells in the world. Leading international companies license technology from some of our leading institutions (eg UNSW) to be used in large solar farms all over the world.

Solar has huge potential in Australia due to the strong and consistent sunlight we receive each year. The Mt Moobi Solar PV Farm at the Kyoto Energy Park would represent the largest Solar PV installation in Australia once fully commissioned. Once operational the solar PV array will be monitored for integrated system performance. Options to install additional stages of solar PV capacity up to 30MW is being considered. Once operational the Mt Moobi Solar PV Farm (Stage 1) would power in the order of 3,500 households alone.

Wind Turbine Generators

Over the last 20 years, with much research, development and implementation around the world, energy created from wind turbines has become an extremely viable and efficient form of renewable energy generation.

Typically large modern turbines vary in height from between 80m to 105m (measured from ground level to the height of the nacelle). The Nacelle houses the gear box, geneartor, and pitch motors, and sits on top of the erected tower.

All typical modern turbines have three blades, with the blades varying between 45m and 55m in length for larger machines. Blades are made of composite material such as resin, fibreglass, wood and thermoplastics.

Often a small step up transformer or switchboard is located inside the base of the tower. Current is generated in the nacelle and stepped up to a voltage that carries the sites electricity to a central substation for connection into the local electricity grid.

The base diameter of the tower is typically 4 m for the larger machines. Concrete foundations are buried beneath the final ground surface level allowing grazing to occur right up to the base of the tower.

Modern wind farms have a minimum turbine spacing of between 350m to 550m (dependent on site conditions) to prevent wind flow interruption from blocking and turbulence. Wind farms are widely accepted as a viable technology for Australia to reach a cost effective 20% renewable energy target by 2020.

For more information on wind turbine technology please visit the NSW Department of Water and Energy.

Closed-loop Hydro Generator

Micro-scale hydropower is one of the most cost-effective and reliable energy technologies to be provided for clean-electricity generation. Small hydro has a high efficiency, a high capacity factor (typically >50%), and is a long-lasting and robust low maintenance technology.

The Kyoto Energy Park intends to use this technology like a clean battery (i.e. water battery^TM). The Mini-hydo system is a closed loop process meaning once the system is charged it will not require additional water resources like a conventional hydro plant.

A closed loop mini-hydro system would provide a power generation source that can be fed into the grid supplementing local electricity demand during peak periods. In addition surplus energy from the Park can be stored in the system during periods when the Park is off-grid for later discharge during peak periods.

The system is simple in nature. Water can be collected from rainfall, diverted and stored in the header tank. The stored water is then discharged to a lower tank through a series of connecting pipes. The discharging water drives a series of mini-hydro turbines which power a small-scale micro generator converting the energy into electrical energy.

By matching renewable supply with peak demand periods the system can help resolve network congestion and reduce generation and transmission infrastructure requirements.