How WA’s regional power provider thinks it can help East Java
Remote communities of East Java present a unique opportunity for Western Australia’s regional power provider, according to its chief executive, who says technology used to deliver electricity to outback communities can be rolled out in Indonesia.
Horizon Power CEO Stephanie Unwin joined a delegation of WA political and business leaders in a trade mission to Indonesia last week, tasked with developing new opportunities for the two countries to co-operate.
Horizon Energy chief executive Stephanie Unwin. Eamon Gallagher
“One of the things that we do really well in remote and regional WA communities is stand up standalone power systems. In effect, it’s storing your energy in a box, it rolls out very quickly, and you can provide power to small communities,” Ms Unwin said.
“I think the opportunity is actually working with the main utilities over here in helping provide standalone power systems into small little micro grids in Indonesia.”
Energy Minister Bill Johnston met representatives from Indonesia’s energy department to discuss the potential for WA to assist in the development of the microgrid technology.
“We certainly want them to understand how we can help them overcome some challenges that they’re trying to address themselves,” he said.
“The first thing is to have the Indonesian national electricity company consider us, and then perhaps identify a project or two as demonstrations and then move forward from there.”
Mr Johnston said using the state-owned power provider to collaborate with Indonesian counterparts was essential in unlocking a broader economic relationship.
Low-emission microgrids have been rolled out across WA to power small communities, including Onslow in the Pilbara, where Horizon recently trialled 100
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