Located in the northern Flinders Ranges, in South Australia, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary offers breathtaking views and boasts almost 2 billion years of geological history. Approximately 12,000 people visit the sanctuary annually to experience the natural environment and local history.

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in Flinders Ranges, South Australia

Diesel-Powered Nature Sanctuary
But although the preserve is focused on conservation, its remote location has required it to operate solely on diesel power to generate its own electricity. The total power consumption at the sanctuary can be considerable during the winter peak season when temperatures drop to near freezing and up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer.

The Arkaroola Education and Research Foundation wanted a sustainable energy solution to meet its power needs. This new rooftop solar array would need to generate power for the entire building. Additional factors for their solar install included the age and engineering of the roofing structure and wind uplift considerations.

Challenging Terrain
A key consideration for the installation was the sheer remoteness of the site itself. Arkaroola is hours away from the nearest town and only accessible via a rugged road. Because of this, material transportation would have to be compact and lightweight.

Arkaroola rail-less microgrid solar array

Enter the Arkaroola Microgrid
The Arkaroola Microgrid features rooftop solar arrays on four buildings. Not only can the sanctuary continue to provide opportunities for research and study, but the microgrid can also provide insight on remote energy technology and engineering.

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