Hydro Tasmania unveils first phase of King Island integration project

Australian renewable energy company Hydro Tasmania has launched the first stage of its $46m King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP) in Tasmania.

KIREIP, which is being developed under the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program of the Australian Government with assistance from the Tasmanian Government, is scheduled for completion in 2013.

Hydro Tasmania Chairman Dr David Crean said that KIREIP offers technology with potential to increase renewable energy use and reduce reliance on diesel fuel for power generation on islands and in off-grid systems across the globe.

"The unique part of this system is the integration of technologies. Although the renewable generation sources such as wind, solar and bio-diesel are mature, the enabling and storage technologies are new and emerging," he added.

"The aim of KIREIP is to reduce diesel consumption for power generation by more than 65 per cent and provide for the ability to generate all of King Island’s power needs using renewable energy when conditions allow."

Hydro Tasmania CEO Roy Adair said, "Although there are remote area power systems in some parts of the world that are capable of supplying the energy needs of single homes or small villages, this is the first remote system on this scale capable of supplying the energy needs of an entire community primarily through wind and solar energy."

Hydro Tasmania expects to export the technology to utility and mining customers in Australia, the Pacific and South East Asia.