Solar project developers in SA outback say they could solve power crisis
DEVELOPERS of the world’s biggest solar and battery project at Roxby Downs have two more projects that together could prevent cuts such as the December statewide blackout, The Advertiser has been told.
DEVELOPERS of the world’s biggest solar and battery project at Roxby Downs have two more projects in the pipeline, that together could prevent cuts such as the December statewide blackout and the recent load-shedding outages, The Advertiser has been told.
Lyon Group is in discussions with the State Government about the projects, but the Government declined to confirm or deny whether it was part of their plan to take over SA’s network.
Lyon has a plan to power Olympic Dam and Roxby Downs, as well as plugging the projects into the grid to help stabilise the whole system.
The Advertiser understands Lyon Group is set to announce the two additional projects for SA within weeks. They have found land for the projects and submitted applications for network connections.
Having the solar and batteries together means the system could provide baseload power, and react quickly in extreme events.
The $300 million Kingfisher scheme will utilise up to 800,000 individual solar panels, alongside giant batteries housed in shipping container-sized units which will be used to top up power when required.
When up and running, that project could instantly provide power — rather than take hours to fire up like Pelican Point — preventing the need for load shedding.
There are a range of solar and storage plans being pitched to SA as the State Government considers its options.
After the February 8 load shedding incident — which saw 90,000 homes and businesses lose power — Premier Jay Weatherill said the Government would “intervene dramatically” to wrest control of the power system.
Options being floated include buying the gas-fired Pelican Point power station, nationalising the system, and finding more power sources.
The Federal Government is investing in pumped hydro to store and distribute energy in SA. A State Government spokesman said its plan would be “focused on South Australians taking control of our own energy future”, and that it was “due to be released within weeks”.
“The Government won’t be ruling in or out particular elements of the plan,” he said.
Yesterday Mr Weatherill reacted strongly when asked by Business SA chief executive Nigel McBride if he took “even the smallest skerrick of responsibility” for SA’s electricity woes. Mr Weatherill avoided the question to say of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull: “He’s got a group of crazy right wingers that will slit his throat if he even mentions that climate change is real.’’
Parliament resumes on Monday with Senate Estimates, which will have a strong focus on climate change, and energy reliability and cost.
Mr Turnbull warned yesterday that Australia could “end up like SA” with unreliable and expensive power if nothing was done.
The Federal Government will today release modelling from a consulting firm hired by the Climate Change Authority that shows an emissions intensity scheme “similar” to the one proposed by Labor would cost $128 billion over a decade.
A typical Edwardstown four-person family would pay an extra $370 a year, according to the modelling.
Oval zaps smart power plan
ADELAIDE Oval authorities, meanwhile, are expected to abandon plans to generate baseload power to supply the stadium.
Diesel and gas “cogeneration” options have been examined by the Stadium Management Authority but it is understood these are considered uneconomic.
The cogeneration plan involved harvesting waste heat from chillers and other sources and converting that to electricity.
But it is understood the SMA board is highly unlikely to proceed, because the project would cost between $11-12 million.
The SMA last year revealed an $800,000 surge in the Oval’s annual electricity bill. It already has back-up battery systems for emergency lighting.