BAI radio tower goes off the grid

BAI, the owner and operator of one of the most extensive terrestrial broadcast transmission networks in the world, is taking its Muswellbrook broadcast tower off-grid to run entirely on solar power.

BAI Group CEO Jim Hassell stated that the Muswellbrook tower is primarily used for local radio broadcast but is also relied on by local emergency services for communications during bushfires and floods. The solar power project sees the introduction of advanced battery storage technology, which provides the reliability required in remote areas.

The pilot project has been designed and delivered by solar power solutions company Photon Energy in association with the German Energy Agency Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) and BAI using predominantly German technology. Solar power will be captured via 216 kWh of battery storage during daylight hours, enabling a constant 24-hour power supply to the commercial site. It is said that the project will set a benchmark for providing complete power supplies to remote locations.

“Our vision is to take infrastructure off-grid with highly reliable solar power and battery storage,” said Photon Energy Australia Managing Director Michael Gartner. “Not only does the storage technology provide off-grid power or remove grid reliance in the areas where the grid costs the most, but it does this cost effectively and without fossil fuel emissions. The system has been designed to be rugged and reliable with the choice of the highest quality Australian outback-tested Q CELLS solar panels, SMA inverters and BAE batteries to provide maximum power and longevity in the toughest Australian conditions.”

The photovoltaic array produces enough solar energy to power 7.3 average Australian households for a year. The 216 kWh of batteries can store enough energy to run the Muswellbrook antenna for up to 43 hours or enough energy for an electric passenger car to drive from Sydney to Melbourne and back. If all chargers run at 100%, the batteries will fully charge in five hours and 32 minutes.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment Leslie Williams, who attended the launch of the system last week, said, “This innovative and smart project demonstrates what is possible in NSW with our abundant renewable energy resources. This project brings us closer to achieving our goal of secure, affordable and clean energy future for households and businesses in NSW.”

BAI is currently considering a network-wide rollout of the technology across Australia.