Industrial Renewable Energy
Port Gregory Microgrid
The Port Gregory hybrid microgrid integrates wind, solar, and battery storage to support electricity supply for a garnet mining and processing operation in Western Australia.
Category
Industrial Renewable Energy
Client
GMA Garnet
Location
Port Gregory, Western Australia, Australia
Date
October 2027
Overview
The Port Gregory project was developed to integrate renewable generation into the electricity supply for GMA Garnet's processing operations. The system combines wind turbines, solar generation, battery storage, and specialised electrical equipment to manage changes in renewable output and support power quality.
The project also addresses the technical challenges of connecting substantial on-site generation to a comparatively weak electricity network.
Key Features
2.5 MW wind generation
1 MW solar generation
2 MW inverter capacity
0.5 MWh battery storage
Grid-support and power-quality measures
Challenge
Integrating substantial renewable generation into a weak grid can create voltage fluctuations and power-quality challenges. Industrial operations also need a stable supply of electricity.
Solution
The project uses a hybrid renewable system and a back-to-back inverter arrangement to separate the customer's generation from the network, smooth fluctuations, and support reliable operation.
Outcome
ARENA reports that the microgrid provides approximately 60–70% of the customer's electricity requirements, with surplus renewable energy able to be exported under suitable conditions.
