HUA-X battery project reference / Pilbara, Western Australia

Battery Storage Cuts Diesel Use at a Remote Pilbara Exploration Camp

A remote Western Australian camp combined 418 kWh of battery storage with a 215 kW AC system, cutting diesel consumption by 46% and reducing solar curtailment from 31% to 6%.

A battery cabinet and separate conversion cabinet on a concrete pad at a Western Australian mining site. — Illustrative project scene.

A camp beyond the electricity grid

An exploration camp in the Pilbara region relied on two 250 kVA diesel generators, with the nearest grid connection more than 100 km away. Diesel delivered to the site cost A$1.85 per litre, and annual generation expenditure reached A$420,000.

The camp already had solar generation, but generator minimum-load constraints caused roughly a third of the available solar energy to be curtailed. Adding more generation alone would not resolve that operating constraint.

Coordinating solar, storage and generators

The project added 418 kWh of DC battery storage with a 215 kW AC conversion system. During the day, solar supplied the camp and charged the battery with surplus generation. Storage allowed the generators to stop when demand would otherwise push them below their suitable loading range, and it supplied evening loads before generator operation resumed.

The equipment operated in ambient temperatures reaching 45°C, dust and day–night temperature swings of 20°C. Liquid cooling maintained cell-temperature differences within 3°C during the project operation.

Less fuel and better use of solar energy

Diesel consumption fell by 46%, delivering annual savings of approximately A$193,000. Solar curtailment dropped from 31% to 6%. After 14 months, battery state of health was 98.2%.

The equipment was shipped through Port Hedland and transported a further 600 km by road. On-site lifting and placement were completed in three days. The principal benefit came from changing the operating relationship between the generators, solar array and camp load.

Project FAQ

Questions about this project reference

Configuration, application and operating conditions for this project.

Why did storage reduce both diesel consumption and solar curtailment?

Storage accepted solar energy that would otherwise be curtailed and supplied the camp when a generator could be stopped. This changed the balance between generator minimum loading, solar output and camp demand. The project reduced diesel consumption by 46% and solar curtailment from 31% to 6%.

Does the 418 kWh cabinet include the complete 215 kW AC system?

The project used 418 kWh of DC battery storage together with 215 kW of AC conversion. Those figures describe different parts of the system. A comparable supply package needs to define the battery, power conversion, generator and solar controls, and site electrical equipment as separate responsibilities.

Can the same diesel savings be expected at another off-grid camp?

Savings depend on the existing generators' loading and fuel consumption, solar availability, the camp's load schedule and delivered fuel cost. This camp began with substantial solar curtailment and A$420,000 in annual generation expenditure. A different starting point changes the opportunity for storage.

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