ZEN Energy and Santos push new solar, gas power station in Upper Spencer Gulf
CLEAN solar power would be backed up by reliable gas energy in a cutting-edge, dual-fuel power station for SA that could be operating in the Upper Spencer Gulf region within months.
CLEAN solar power would be backed up by reliable gas energy in a cutting edge, dual-fuel power station for SA that could be operating in the Upper Spencer Gulf region within months.
SA energy titans ZEN Energy and Santos say the new joint venture will deliver 100MW of power. SA was yesterday using about 1000MW, but can hit more than 3000MW in summer.
The plan requires development approvals, but the companies say the gas component of the plant could be up and running by winter this year and the solar installation would follow soon after.
Santos also says it has the gas required to run the plant, despite a broader national shortage.
Under the power station model, solar panels would run during the day and pump clean energy into the grid. Gas would fire up to cover the balance and ensure supply when the sun sets.
It would also have a battery bank included to further safeguard continuous supply.
The forced blackouts suffered by SA last month came just as wind and solar started falling off in the evening.
While gas production fired up, there was not enough to stop forced outages.
ZEN Energy chief executive Geoff Titus said preparatory work on the “grid-level battery integration technology” had been completed and the project could be implemented in time to play a major role in the stabilisation of SA electricity supply next summer.
“Over the past 15 months, we have determined what is required for large-scale solar together with battery storage to add the greatest value to electricity users in SA,” Mr Titus said.
Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher said the project would deliver “clean, reliable and
affordable energy” and burning natural gas was up to 70 per cent cleaner than coal.
“It is also the most flexible fuel for baseload power, filling current gaps in renewable power generation,” he said.
“The partnership also opens up exciting opportunities for Santos to introduce solar energy into our gas processing and transport operations in SA and Queensland, lowering our production costs and freeing up gas for release into the domestic market.”
The size of the proposed solar-gas plant is about the same as the battery farm that Tesla boss and technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has suggested he could build for SA within 100 days.
After making the pledge in a tweet last week, Mr Musk has since had phone calls with Premier Jay Weatherill and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull about the technology.
On Monday, Mr Musk tweeted “a note of appreciation to the many Australians who came out in support of the battery plan”.
However, he added the plan could only happen by “working closely with key govt and utility leaders who are strongly committed to trying new approaches”.