New electricity solution for isolated North Island customers
Two of Powerco’s most isolated customers in Moawhango, a rural area northeast of Taihape, have a new custom electricity solution using Base Power’s Stand Alone Power System (SAPS) units.
Timahanga Station and the Owhaoko C Trust community lodge in Moawhango have been served by 15km of traditional overhead lines that are now at the end of their life.
Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew says the Moawhango Base Power project is a significant initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of maintaining traditional overhead power lines in a remote, high-altitude area.
“As a result of extreme weather events, aging infrastructure and isolation these customers experience frequent power outages and the physical environment creates significant challenges for rebuilding the line which can leave customers without power for some time,” says Karen Frew.
The SAPS units are hybrid power systems that primarily use solar energy with backup diesel generation to charge a battery bank, which then provides grid quality power to the customers.
“The installation of the SAPS units is a more efficient, cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable alternative to traditional overhead lines in this location,” says Karen Frew.
After years of unpredictable power and frequent power outages Timahanga Station’s Alan Roberts is looking forward to the consistent power the five SAPS units on his property will offer.
“It should be a lot better, and we’ll have more consistent power.”
During outages, Timahanga Station has relied on their own back-up generators to run power to the five houses, two shearing sheds, three workers’ quarters, Chorus communications tower, chillers and workshop required to serve the 10,700ha farm.
With the SAPS units in place, frequent outages will be a thing of the past and there will be no need to manage their own generator and move it from one end of the farm to the other to power the farm’s two shearing sheds.
The Owhaoko C Trust has also experienced unreliable power affecting their water supply, communications and the ability to offer a safe meeting place for whānau (family) to connect with their whenua (land) but most importantly a lack of reliable power has affected the Trust’s plans to grow.
“One of the most important things about reengaging with our people and getting them to engage with their whenua is having the infrastructure to make them feel comfortable and safe,” says Owhaoko C Trust Chair Peter MacGregor.
Looking ahead, the Trust wants to build future opportunities for their young people.
“We want whānau to come and enjoy what we’ve got and enjoy the expansion,” says Owhaoko C Trust Kaimahi Horiana MacGregor.
These plans include creating an ablution block, campsites and papakainga (housing) as well as reinstating a marae so they can host whānau and other groups.
An electricity solution using renewable energy was also appealing to the Trust.
“By having renewable energy, we’re still maintaining the integrity of our whenua and uplifting it to ensure future generations can enjoy it – it’s really important for our mokopuna and ourselves to learn how we can live off the whenua and still enjoy what the modern world brings us with power – which is a real privilege to be in and to hold and maintain that space for future generations,” says Horiana MacGregor.
The Base Power SAPS units are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including extra high wind zones, heavy snowfall, and persistent cloud cover common to the area.
“The configuration of these Base Power SAPS will see them being the largest and most advanced units installed on Powerco's network to date, with inbuilt satellite communications providing real-time remote monitoring and fault diagnostics,” says Base Power Business Manager Will Buchanan.
The installation of the new power system began in November when six hybrid standalone power systems were trucked to Timahanga Station and the Owhaoko C Trust site.
Horiana MacGregor was at the Trust's lodge when the system first went live and says it was seamless.
“The power’s on, that’s amazing – I didn’t even have to think about it,” she says.
Timahanga Station and the Owhaoko C Trust community lodge in Moawhango have been served by 15km of traditional overhead lines that are now at the end of their life.
Powerco General Manager Electricity Karen Frew says the Moawhango Base Power project is a significant initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of maintaining traditional overhead power lines in a remote, high-altitude area.
“As a result of extreme weather events, aging infrastructure and isolation these customers experience frequent power outages and the physical environment creates significant challenges for rebuilding the line which can leave customers without power for some time,” says Karen Frew.
The SAPS units are hybrid power systems that primarily use solar energy with backup diesel generation to charge a battery bank, which then provides grid quality power to the customers.
“The installation of the SAPS units is a more efficient, cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable alternative to traditional overhead lines in this location,” says Karen Frew.
After years of unpredictable power and frequent power outages Timahanga Station’s Alan Roberts is looking forward to the consistent power the five SAPS units on his property will offer.
“It should be a lot better, and we’ll have more consistent power.”
During outages, Timahanga Station has relied on their own back-up generators to run power to the five houses, two shearing sheds, three workers’ quarters, Chorus communications tower, chillers and workshop required to serve the 10,700ha farm.
With the SAPS units in place, frequent outages will be a thing of the past and there will be no need to manage their own generator and move it from one end of the farm to the other to power the farm’s two shearing sheds.
The Owhaoko C Trust has also experienced unreliable power affecting their water supply, communications and the ability to offer a safe meeting place for whānau (family) to connect with their whenua (land) but most importantly a lack of reliable power has affected the Trust’s plans to grow.
“One of the most important things about reengaging with our people and getting them to engage with their whenua is having the infrastructure to make them feel comfortable and safe,” says Owhaoko C Trust Chair Peter MacGregor.
Looking ahead, the Trust wants to build future opportunities for their young people.
“We want whānau to come and enjoy what we’ve got and enjoy the expansion,” says Owhaoko C Trust Kaimahi Horiana MacGregor.
These plans include creating an ablution block, campsites and papakainga (housing) as well as reinstating a marae so they can host whānau and other groups.
An electricity solution using renewable energy was also appealing to the Trust.
“By having renewable energy, we’re still maintaining the integrity of our whenua and uplifting it to ensure future generations can enjoy it – it’s really important for our mokopuna and ourselves to learn how we can live off the whenua and still enjoy what the modern world brings us with power – which is a real privilege to be in and to hold and maintain that space for future generations,” says Horiana MacGregor.
The Base Power SAPS units are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, including extra high wind zones, heavy snowfall, and persistent cloud cover common to the area.
“The configuration of these Base Power SAPS will see them being the largest and most advanced units installed on Powerco's network to date, with inbuilt satellite communications providing real-time remote monitoring and fault diagnostics,” says Base Power Business Manager Will Buchanan.
The installation of the new power system began in November when six hybrid standalone power systems were trucked to Timahanga Station and the Owhaoko C Trust site.
Horiana MacGregor was at the Trust's lodge when the system first went live and says it was seamless.
“The power’s on, that’s amazing – I didn’t even have to think about it,” she says.
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