The microgrid uses solar and battery storage and will power 13 oil pump loads in South Australia’s Cooper Basin.
It is made up of a centralised 130 kW solar PV system; 437-kWh battery storage system; 500 kVA pad-mounted step-up transformer; and two new 450 kVA generators connected to oil pump sites via a 6 km high voltage transmission power line and step-down transformers.
AGL chief customer officer Christine Corbett said AGL’s microgrid will help Santos to shift to sustainable and reliable energy sources, improving both its commercial performance and overall environmental impacts of its oil wells.
“Santos was seeking an energy solution that was less carbon intensive and more cost-effective to maintain in a remote location,” Corbett said.
“We developed an intelligent micro-grid control system that reduces the safety risks for remote area work and ensures reliable and sustainable supply.
“The system will reduce maintenance time, improve efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and most importantly use renewable energy, supporting Santos in lowering its emissions.”
Santos has publicly stated that the company is looking to fund the energy transition to net-zero emissions, investing in carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods at Moomba.
The company registered for the Emissions Reduction Fund earlier this month.
For more information visit the Santos website.