Study looks at portable solar plants

An engineering firm is investigating the merits of using portable hybrid solar and diesel plants in a move that could be a game changer for Australia's renewable energy landscape.

The federal government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency has pledged $410,000 towards construction firm Laing O'Rourke's feasibility study.

Agency chief executive Ivor Frischknecht said the permanent nature of solar installations was a barrier to their use off-grid by mining operations.

"A portable hybrid system constructed off-site and easily transportable could be a real game changer," he said.