Hybrid Energy Management for an Off-Grid Power Station in Remote South Australia

The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM), with assistance from ComAp, installed a new power station at Oodnadatta in remote South Australia, delivering 75% renewable penetration through the integration of solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) into their diesel infrastructure. ComAp delivered a fully integrated Hybrid Energy Management Solution built around its InteliNeo 6000 microgrid controller, enabling intelligent coordination of all energy sources to reduce reliance on diesel, lower emissions and improve reliability in extreme outback conditions. The town is now supplied with power for significant periods each day without consuming diesel.

In line with DEM's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the Remote Area Energy Supply (RAES), commissioned a new power station delivering 75% renewable penetration at Oodnadatta to reduce dependency on diesel while maintaining strict standards for safety, stability and power quality. Remote communities present unique operational challenges, including harsh climate, geographic isolation and ageing infrastructure. The new system, including the 500 kW / 1000 kWh BESS, needed to operate automatically, maximise renewable contribution and minimise wear on generation assets.

ComAp designed and commissioned an energy management solution for a hybrid system comprising four SMA 110 kW PV inverters (STP-110 60), three 256 kVA synchronous generators custom-built for high-temperature operation, switchgear and SCADA. The control architecture included one InteliNeo 6000 hybrid controller, three InteliGen 1000 gen-set controllers and four InteliVision 5.2 displays, with full integration into DEM’s existing RAES WebSupervisor Pro account. InteliSCADA Pro was installed for advanced remote monitoring and control, including CCTV integration for full station visibility. This results in reduced downtime and avoids technicians travelling many hours to the site unnecessarily.

ComAp’s hybrid energy management solution enables seamless transitions between generator-backed operation and fully renewable operation. PV and BESS outputs are dynamically controlled to maintain generator loading at the Minimum Partial Load setpoint while minimising curtailment. The BESS operates in voltage source mode with frequency and voltage droop response, ensuring grid stability. Fast-tracked Factory Acceptance Testing allowed rapid commissioning following generator failure on site. The result is a resilient hybrid power station delivering high renewable penetration, reduced fuel use and long-term operational stability.