Opening of the Cadell Almond Orchard Microgrid – The large-scale agricultural operation’s high-voltage power system will be managed sustainably, reliably and safely by an inverter/battery/control system, or a ‘Grid in a Box’.

Last week, we celebrated the completion of the orchard’s off-grid microgrid installation. It features a ~4.8 MWp solar PV system, 3.9 MVA and 4.2 MWh battery energy storage System (BESS), and ~8km of high voltage network. These components work together to power three load stations, each operating irrigation pumps and diesel generators. AGL worked with Australian Farming Services to develop this innovative C&I power solution, enhancing the farm’s energy cost certainty and power supply sustainability, reliability and autonomy (see https://lnkd.in/d3GiDQ5n).

At the core of the power systems is the PowerTec PowerCache®, a power-system-strength-generating BESS. It will form a utility-quality grid, providing fault current and instant operating reserves while smoothing and storing intermittent solar energy. Controlled as a microgrid by over twenty PowerTec PaDECS® edge controllers, the network can, among various other functions, autonomously reconfigure to adapt to operational scenarios and achieve high fault tolerance.

The power supply is projected to be emissions free for most of its operation. Stay tuned and join us in following the project teams as they commission this pioneering power solution for the industrial agriculture sector!