You would have to say that the Department of Defence is our most valued client. Many have labelled the Perth Wave Energy Project a failure but not apparently in the eyes of the D of D. Would they have awarded CCE the contract for the Garden Island Microgrid Project if they were disatisfied?
I think not.
In CCE they have an innovative technology company that is willing and able to work with them on complex issues.
In the coming years, hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent on the base to bring it up to standard as one of the most important military facilities in the Indian Ocean.
This article says that GIMP will supply 15% of the bases power. I am thinking that is based on the current demands. It is likely that much more will be required in the future IMO.
I would think that right now (before testing and commissioning is complete) is the best time to make some preparations for further upgrades.
"Currently HMAS Stirling get their power and water over a causeway linking the island and the mainland… it is a point of vulnerability Navy and Defence are aware of that and are motivated to try and build some redundancy around it," Mr Ottaviano said.
Securing energy, and people
"The desalination plant will be able to supply about 50 per cent of the base's water needs and the solar farm can meet about 15 per cent of its power needs. The microgrid will be integrated with the department's diesel generators and the power grid and can transfer from on-grid to off-grid mode without interrupting supply.
"Defence can choose to disconnect from the grid if it felt like there was an issue coming and just run in off-grid mode and then switch back to on-grid mode seamlessly," Mr Ottaviano said.
In an entirely off-grid situation like Delamere, Mr Ottaviano said microgrids were about 30 to 35 per cent cheaper than diesel, depending on scale of the project and how remote it is.
Curtin University national security lecturer Gavin Briggs said he expected the Defence Department to follow the US in increasingly diversifying its energy use not just at its Australian bases but also offshore and at a tactical level.
"Originally it was driven by cost and efficiency but it has moved to not just be about savings," Mr Griggs said."
