Groundbreaking Solar River Project to slash the cost of renewable energy to 90,000 SA homes
CONSTRUCTION on the first stage of South Australia’s largest solar power project will begin early next year, creating hundreds of jobs, powering 90,000 homes and promising cheaper electricity.
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CONSTRUCTION on the first stage of South Australia’s largest solar power project will begin early next year, creating hundreds of jobs, powering 90,000 homes and promising cheaper electricity.
About 628,000 solar panels will be installed on a 5000ha property near Robertstown, 45km south of Burra in the Mid North, under stage one of the $450 million Solar River Project. The renewable energy project, which is the brainchild of passionate South Australian Jason May and Perth-based lawyer Richard Winter, will also boast a 120MW battery for storage. State development approval has been granted for the project, while Goyder Council and local indigenous groups have also backed the enterprise.
Planned future stages of the project could give it the potential to supply energy to about 450,000 homes across Australia should the state Liberal government’s proposed interconnector get up and running.
A site contractor will be announced later this week and recruitment will begin later this year, with a caveat that as many jobs as possible are local. The project will have a 25-year life span and will include 350 jobs during the two-year build, which is scheduled to start in January, and 45 permanent jobs covering apprenticeships, traineeships and engineering and management roles.
“We have binding contracts for equity solutions and the final partner is to be selected. We are in advanced stages for the debt portion,” Mr Winter said. The project has so far been funded by Mr May and Mr Winter.
“We have put everything we have into it, many millions. We are not going cap in hand for handouts,” Mr Winter said. Mr May said they had consulted widely with the community to ensure the best outcomes.
“A Mid North regional community fund and the Ngadjuri nation aboriginal corporation heritage agreement has been established for community, employment, education, sport and arts programs over the next 25 years,” he said.
“A conservation park will also be established near the site for research and flora and fauna protection programs.”
Mr May said SA’s high power prices had driven the project.
“The thing that is really harming the economy at the moment is the cost of electricity, it’s obscene the margins that are being made,” he said. “We wanted to show it is feasible to do large scale renewable energy and deliver cheaper prices to the public.
“I am a passionate South Australian and I want my children to stay here and have a job.
“It was just a matter of time really. I met Richard when we were working on wind farms at Investec (bank) in Sydney 10 years ago. The scope came together in the last 12 months, we see renewables as the future.”
The men behind the project praised the University of Adelaide’s innovation hub ThincLab, where the project has grown over the past year.
“I was working in the state library 12 months ago, because of the free wi-fi, and drove past ThincLab one day,” Mr May said. “I fell in love with the place, it’s like minded, there are venture capitalists there and banks. I had access to all facilities, I feel very privileged.”
University deputy vice-chancellor (research) Professor Mike Brooks said he was a fan.
“We can only marvel at the imagination and drive of the Solar River Project team. We have been delighted to host and support the company at ThincLab,” he said.
Wider collaborators have included Nature Foundation SA and the Ngadjuri people.
“I knew the Ngadjuri’s Quentin Agius from my Investec work 10 years ago. He is on board and carried out a smoking ceremony to cleanse the lands and appease elders,” Mr May said. The State Government has also come out in support of the venture.
“Solar River is exactly the type of investment in the power network that SA needs to deliver more reliable and affordable electricity in the future,” Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said.
“The Marshall Government supports investment in renewable energy but it needs adequate storage attached to ensure electricity is available when consumers need it.”
Stage two would see an additional 200MW of generation added, plus a 150MW battery, and would commence construction in the last quarter of 2019.
The Solar River Project near Robertstown is expected to set benchmarks for solar power in South Australia
■ When complete, stage one will service about 90,000 SA homes with renewable energy
■There will be about 628,000 solar panels, covering 3.2km by 1.8km
■ Stage one will eliminate 8.75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide pollution
■ Up to 400 jobs will be created locally
■ Solar power storage will be delivered by a 120MW battery in stage one, with stage two to bring in an additional 200MW capacity and 150MW battery
■ Up to 450,000 homes can be serviced with power exported to the eastern seaboard via a proposed interconnector once all stages are completed
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