WA Solar Program Reaches Milestone with New Renewable System in Norseman

Pacific Energy has successfully completed the final installation of a centralized solar farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) in Norseman, marking a major milestone in Horizon Power’s Mid West Solar Program. Norseman is the sixth town to benefit from the program, joining Cue, Sandstone, Yalgoo, Meekatharra, and Wiluna, where renewable systems are now actively reducing diesel dependency and carbon emissions.

The newly integrated system in Norseman includes a 758kW solar farm and a 336kWh BESS, adding to the total renewable energy infrastructure designed to offset over 2,100 tons of carbon emissions each year. Excess solar energy generated during the day is stored in the BESS for use at night or on cloudy days, allowing these towns to rely less on diesel power while enjoying clean, stable energy around the clock.

By generating and storing renewable energy, the Mid West Solar Program reduces fuel costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and the environmental footprint of diesel use in Western Australia’s remote towns. The renewable systems, owned by Horizon Power and maintained by Pacific Energy, also improve fuel security and lower maintenance expenses, creating long-term benefits for these communities.

Jamie Cullen, CEO of Pacific Energy, emphasized the impact of these systems, noting they have a combined capacity of over 2,000kW and have generated 1.8 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy from January to November 2024. “That’s enough to power around 280 average Australian homes entirely with renewable energy,” said Cullen. With 4,300kWh of BESS across all sites, excess solar power can be stored to enhance grid stability and ensure renewable energy availability, even when the sun isn’t shining.

Stephanie Unwin, Horizon Power’s CEO, highlighted that this program is just one of many projects aimed at bringing clean energy solutions to WA’s regional towns. "The solar and battery systems provide a cleaner and more economical alternative for communities that have historically relied solely on diesel generation,” Unwin said, underscoring the benefits of reduced carbon emissions and cost savings.