Battery storage can help remote communities tackle energy insecurity, access cheaper power and reduce their carbon emissions, but transitioning these towns to renewables requires purpose-built solutions.
As many of Australia’s remote and First Nations communities are either on the fringe of electricity networks or separated from the grid entirely, they are often dependent on diesel generators where fuel supply can be unreliable or prepaid power services that lead to constant outages.
In addition, frequent extreme weather conditions can both increase their reliance on heating and cooling services and cause long-term disconnections.
Battery storage presents an opportunity for these communities to build greater network resilience while reducing their energy costs and emissions. However, their remote locations and harsh climates create several barriers that need to be addressed before they can transition to renewable energy.
Mictronix Power Systems (MPS) Director, Anthony Micallef, sheds light on these challenges and discusses the technology required to tackle them.
Off the beaten track
Before any battery system can be installed, the first challenge is often gaining access to the site.
“A lot of the time, these places are really remote; the roads are very rutted, especially up north, and there are parts of the year that you just cannot get there,” Mr Micallef explained.
Many battery systems come in containerised solutions, which are prefabricated to make installation easier. However, this means that these systems are quite heavy and need to be transported using forklifts or cranes.
As access is an issue for these communities, a system that can be easily transported and installed without special equipment is required.
“You need things that can be moved by local people, and not heavy equipment, which means breaking the system down and then putting it back together on site,” Mr Micallef said.
“We try and avoid anything that involves software … our modules have pluggable connectors and can be assembled with regular tools and don’t require any updates.”
Weathering the storm
Communities are often reliant on government funding for both the installation of new systems and the repair or replacement of damaged infrastructure, and Mr Micallef said that they could sometimes have to wait long periods of time for a failed system to be repaired or replaced.
As many remote and First Nations communities are also home to extreme temperatures, these conditions need to be taken into account to prevent a battery storage system from failing.
Mr Micallef explained that batteries have a temperature range that they are designed to operate in, and they will fail if they are pushed outside that range.
“The harder you push the battery, the more it heats up, and the hotter the temperature is, the faster the batteries degrade.
“We build a robust battery and we under promise and over deliver on what it can do so that you’re not pushing into the limits all the time,” Mr Micallef said.
“We use lithium iron phosphate cells, which don’t have cobalt in them. So, when they fail they don’t create a fire event. Whereas lithium cobalt oxide batteries just burst into flames if you overcharge or damage them.
“We also build redundancy and resiliency into the system design itself. Each battery is self-managed to protect from conditions outside of the allowable operation range, and if one of them fails then the [system] could still run just off one battery.”
Made in Australia, for Australia
Supported by MPS distributor, R&J Batteries, Mr Micallef’s goal is to ensure that affordable renewable electricity is available to everyone who needs it, regardless of location.
With a focus on off-grid solutions, Mr Micallef designed MPS from the ground up for the Australian market.
“International batteries that meet the standards in different countries might need to be [adjusted] for us. I built [MPS’ solutions] to suit Australian’s climate and our manufacturing. It might work for overseas markets, but it’s built for us,” Mr Micallef said.
“We got a full support network all the way from manufacturing through to the end user. R&J has staff who are ex-installers so they understand the product and how to support it.”
“I’ve got a really good team of people to help me make the product bigger, better and support long-term sustainable growth.”
Image credit: MPS.
