A Hydro Tasmania project maximising the renewable energy potential of King Island has won the 2013 Innovation Award from the Energy Supply Association of Australia.

Each year, the Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa) honours member businesses taking the lead on advancing new projects and good   corporate citizenship. The Innovation Award recognises energy businesses making the industry more sustainable, effi cient and cheaper to run. Hydro Tasmania’s King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP) uses a range of renewable and conventional technologies to reduce diesel consumption for power generation on the island. KIRIEP is a hybrid power system, comprising wind, solar, battery storage, fl ywheels, dynamic
resistor technology, dynamic load control and the use of biofuels.

“This combination of technologies means KIRIEP can securely and reliably generate power for the island, even during lulls in the wind or when the sun isn’t shining,” said Project Director Simon Gamble. “When conditions are right, KIREIP delivers all of King Island’s power from renewable  sources, reducing the cost of providing electricity to the island.” The judging panel said: KIREIP impressed our judges as a world-leading approach to harnessing the full capacity of renewable energy. The project also has the potential to be replicated in remote areas to reduce reliance on diesel and the cost of supply. KIREIP is an initiative of Hydro Tasmania and is being developed with the assistance of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Tasmanian Government.

Read more on the project website:
http://www.kingislandrenewableenergy.com.au