Enwave and ZEN energy project at Tonsley opened

The huge roofspace at Tonsley is an ideal spot for solar panels, attracting a $40m investment - just the thing to keep beer cool on a hot day.

Beer brewed and cooled from the sun will be one of the results a $40 million investment in renewable energy at the Tonsley precinct.

The solar and batteries project which was formally opened on Tuesday will supply 30 per cent of the energy usage at Tonsley.

Tenants — including the microbrewery being established by the owners of the Lady Burra Brewhouse — will be offered a discount on standing electricity contracts if they sign up for the service.

Enwave Australia will run the scheme in partnership with ZEN Energy which is installing the solar panels.

Opening the project, Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said power would be available to businesses and organisations in the precinct as well as residents of the village now under construction.

“The Tonsley District Energy Scheme demonstrates South Australia’s leadership in the renewable energy sector — and Tonsley is becoming a hub for business and innovation in this space,” he said.

The microbrewery being built by the owners of the Lady Burra Brewhouse is expected to be among the project’s customers, Enwave chief executive Cameron Evans said.

The solar and battery elements were part of an overall energy management scheme.

“The scheme can be increased and we plan on increasing the scale as demand for electricity grows in the precinct,” he said.

Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan, ZEN Energy chief executive Marc Barrington and Enwave Australia chief executive Cameron Evans at Tonsley.

Enwave will also provide recycled water to Tonsley and is investigating the feasibility of a hydrogen plant.

Enwave, which was recently acquired by Infrastructure Capital Group, had sufficient working capital to fund the project.

Renewal SA is providing the roof space but no funding.

ZEN Energy chief executive Marc Barrington said the project was the company’s biggest solar installation.

“The array will work hand-in-hand with a range of other technologies in the Tonsley District Energy Scheme to showcase how the benefits of renewable energy,” he said.

Workers installing solar panels as part of the Tonsley District Energy Project.

In the first stage, 7400 solar panels are being installed to provide 2.34MW of power. In future stages, this will increase 20,000 panels and 6MW. The battery component is still under design but likely to have 4MW output.

Enwave has agreed to provide 30 per cent of the annual electricity consumption at Tonsley from the project, with capacity increasing as the precinct grows.

Now there are 35 businesses and organisations at Tonsley, employing 17000 people on site in addition to about 6000 TAFE and Flinders University students who spend some time there.