Logan City has fully embraced battery storage. This time around its Council has installed solar systems and Tesla Powerpack to purify the water supplied within the city.
Recently the South-East Queensland council installed the first ever off-grid system in Australia to be completely powered by Tesla Powerpack for a commercial application.
So far the project has generated a cost savings of $1.9 million and operational cost savings of about $50,000 per year for the Logan City Council.
The electro-chlorinator and the Tesla-supported micro-power grid will deliver 24/7 solar power to ensure drinking water for the locals is clean and quality 24 hours a day.
Nearly 200,000 people are expected to benefit from the solution by the time the region becomes fully-fledged.
Local government’ support of renewable energy initiatives has been steadily growing over the past few years in line with hikes in power prices.
Logan ready for rapid growth with solar power
Luke Smith the Mayor of the City of Logan stated that innovation was ranked top on the Council’s agenda. The Council also showed much commitment in leading by example and making their promises a reality, he said.
The massive 20 megalitres Round Mountain Reservoir was put into use in 2014. It supplies drinking water to residents in Yarrabilba, Flagstone, Woodhill, Spring Mountain, and North Maclean.
“This is set to be one of the fastest growing areas in South-East Queensland over the next two decades,” stated Mayor Smith.
“But with that growth comes the issue of building assets larger than are needed right now. We decided there was a need for a dedicated water chlorination station at the reservoir.”
Again, since the reservoir is not connected to the national electricity grid, solar energy becomes a more viable and realistic solution, Mayor Smith said.
Tesla Powerpack for Commercial application: first of its kind
The Council claims the project is the first off-grid commercial solar storage battery system in Australia to fully rely on Tesla Powerpack to power its system. The project also confirms the great potential Australian assets have in achieving energy security by installing a combination of solar PV and storage battery systems.
The electro-chlorinator is being powered by 323 solar PV systems and a 95kWh capacity Tesla Powerpack. In return, the residents of Logan will enjoy clean, quality water around the clock.
The installation of the Tesla Pack comes at a time when commercial power prices are soaring while more Australian homeowners struggle to pay their utility bills.
Thankfully, advancement in storage battery and solar panels technology are helping reduce electricity costs and encourage grid independence or self-reliance.
