Overview
A remote critical infrastructure site in Australia’s Northern Territory required reliable three-phase power for sensitive equipment in a challenging tropical environment.
The site’s existing grid connection was unable to support the additional electrical loads required by the facility. Without a hybrid energy system, the site would have been forced to rely more heavily on diesel generation, increasing fuel use, maintenance requirements, and operating costs.
Northern Power Systems designed and installed a hybrid power system using Discover Energy Systems high-voltage battery storage, Solis three-phase hybrid inverters, and diesel generator backup. The result is a more efficient power architecture that allows the batteries to support the majority of the site load while the generator is used as a controlled charging source.
Challenge
Delivering reliable three-phase power in remote environments can be difficult, especially where grid capacity is limited and operating conditions are harsh.
The site required stable power for sensitive equipment while operating in a hot, dusty, and humid tropical climate. At the same time, the existing grid supply could not support the new site loads, creating the need for a system that could improve power availability without defaulting to continuous diesel generator operation.
Key challenges included:
- Insufficient grid capacity for new electrical loads
- Sensitive equipment requiring high-quality three-phase power
- Remote-site access and maintenance constraints
- High temperatures, humidity, and airborne dust
- The need to reduce diesel generator runtime
- Separate infrastructure huts requiring reliable power
Requirement
Deliver stable three-phase power for remote critical infrastructure while reducing diesel generator runtime, fuel consumption, and generator servicing requirements.
Solution
Northern Power Systems deployed two containerized hybrid power systems, each built around Discover 210HV battery storage and Solis three-phase hybrid inverters.
Each Discover 210HV battery system was installed inside a 20-foot high-cube container modified with side doors to support airflow and ventilation. At the end of each container, an insulated and air-conditioned equipment room was constructed to house the Solis hybrid inverters.
The two identical container systems provide power to separate infrastructure huts on the site. The Solis inverter platform manages power between the batteries, generator, and site loads, allowing the batteries to act as the primary power source while the generator periodically recharges the system.
This architecture reduces reliance on continuous diesel generation and helps deliver stable three-phase power in demanding environmental conditions.
