Solar River project at Robertstown to sell power to Alinta Energy
If you’re generating heaps of electricity from your $480 million solar power farm, you need someone to buy it. Who better than the company which knocked over the Port Augusta coal plant?
The company which closed down the Port Augusta coal-fired power station will buy tens of millions of dollars worth of solar energy in South Australia.
The deal by Alinta Energy locks in the finances for the $480 million Solar River project at Robertstown in the Mid North.
“This agreement symbolises Alinta Energy’s determination to deliver cleaner and more affordable energy for South Australians,” Alinta Energy managing director Jeff Dimery said.
“We’re committed to backing smart, high-quality renewables projects that support our growing customer base.”
The Solar River project will create 450 jobs in the construction phase of building one of the world’s biggest solar farms — some 640,000 panels over 450ha.
The 200MW farm, and 100MW/300MWh battery, won development approval in June last year.
Construction is now expected to start in the last quarter of this year with electricity generated from 2021.
“The signing of the 15-year agreement with Alinta Energy is a major milestone,” Solar River chief executive Jason May said.
Debt and equity deals could now be finalised.
“The combined advantage of a lower-cost and lower emissions energy supply, along with community benefits will be enjoyed by South Australians for many years to come,” Mr May said.
Solar River will gift Goyder Regional Council $2 million in two tranches for a Mid North Regional Community Fund.
A heritage agreement with the Ngadjuri Nation Aboriginal Corporation will support community, employment, education, sport and arts programs over the next 25 years.
A large nature park will also be established near the site for conservation purposes.
Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan welcomed the Alinta deal.
“The 200MW project with large scale battery storage is exactly the type of electricity generation that SA needs to deliver affordable, reliable and clean electricity,” he said.
“The Marshall Government’s energy policies are specifically designed to attract investment, create more competition and reduce costs to households and businesses.”
A nearby project, Robertstown Solar, proposed by EPS Energy won development approval earlier this month.
The two Robertstown solar farms, and the Lyon Group’s Riverland project near Morgan, would connect to ElectraNet’s $1.53 billion interconnector to NSW as well as sell into the market in SA.
The projects are among many across SA which are on the drawing board despite the failure in April of the Solar Reserve thermal project near Port Augusta.