Monday 16 March 2009

Big new power Deal for island

Hobart Mercury
Friday 13/3/2009 Page: 10

Deal IslandA TASMANIAN company will power remote Deal Island in Bass Strait with solar panels, provide lightning protection and even a weather station connection for mariners. The dramatic site northwest of Flinders Island is home to one of Australia's most important heritage lighthouses and a tiny population of volunteer caretakers.

The Powercom Group, based at Kingston, won the Parks and Wildlife Service tender for the energy-efficient power supply. Its specialists in power, communications and electronic systems engineering have built remote area power systems in some of the most difficult places on the planet in Australia, the Pacific, Asia and Africa.

Group sales manager Damien Virieux said little Deal Island offered some big challenges. "The key challenges were the logistics because of its remote location," Mr Virieux said. "What helped us was our experience in the Pacific islands doing similar jobs, everything down to making your own concrete. We have to make sure every nut and bolt is there. You can't just duck down to Bunnings."

0 comments: