Wilpena Pound Resort is powered by the largest off-grid solar electricity system in Australia.

Owned and operated by AGL Energy, the $2.5 million system delivers reliable, high quality power 24-hours a day while also offering quiet, efficient and environmentally-sound power supply which is sensitive to the natural surrounds for which Wilpena is world renowned.

The hybrid power station combines multiple generation sources - 100kW solar cells convert sunlight into electrical energy, 400kW of battery storage, an inverter and three diesel generators totaling 440kW. It is controlled by a high-tech computer system.

Annually this solar component of the power station provides up to 40% of Wilpena Pound Resort’s power. During the daytime, with good sunshine, the solar cells will meet the resort’s demand. For cloudy periods, the batteries or diesel generators or both can be used to supplement the solar power.

At night, the most efficient diesel generator combination is switched on to meet the load. Also at this time, any excess solar energy stored in the batteries is used to offset the diesel consumption.

The automatic system offers unattended operation and it is remotely monitored and controlled via a modern-link. The Wilpena Solar Power Station represents the state-of-the-art in remote power technologies.

Wilpena Pound is one of South Australia’s best known landforms so it is appropriate - visually and environmentally - to use renewable energy to power the resort. By installing a solar system, the natural environment is not spoiled with power lines nor by the excavation work that would have been required to extend the grid.

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