Riverland business Yates Electrical Services wins $36m contract to build solar farms in regional SA
A Riverland company will build $36m worth of solar farms across regional SA, creating up to 250 jobs.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Riverland business has won a $36 million contract to build five solar and battery farms across regional South Australia, creating up to 250 jobs and ensuring local electricity supply remains stable during high-demand periods.
Renmark company Yates Electrical Services (YES) will build 20 megawatts of new large-scale solar and battery farms in Renmark, Port Wakefield, Padthaway and Murray Bridge.
Two plants will be constructed in Port Wakefield.
YES has been engaged by Adelaide firm Sustainable Energy Infrastructure to complete the work.
YES managing director Mark Yates said the contract was the largest his company had been awarded, describing it as a win for both his business and regional communities, with each farm set to create 20 direct jobs and up to 30 contractor positions.
“The operation and maintenance of the plants will also provide ongoing local employment opportunities,” he said.
“There’s also additional economic benefits to each regional town with workers shopping locally during construction.”
Furthermore, the plants will “provide stability and reduce demand on the local distribution network,” Mr Yates said.
“SA Heatwaves during summer put significant strain on the network, and having an asset like this locally will reduce pressure on the network during days of high demand,” he said.
Mr Yates said the energy market was transitioning away from larger central generation solar farms and instead favouring a higher number of smaller, sub-five megawatt plants in regional areas.
He said this was because there were less barriers to entry and construction of small-scale plants were fast to market.
Over the past five years, YES, which was established in 2004, has developed and built more than 80 solar farms in the sub-five megawatt category.
It won the “excellence in business” award at the BDO Fast Movers Awards in 2019
Construction work on the first two solar and battery farms under the $36m contract, in Renmark and Port Wakefield, has begun.
Work on the remaining plants are expected to begin from December.
All five projects are due to be completed over the next 18 months.
Originally published as Riverland business Yates Electrical Services wins $36m contract to build solar farms in regional SA
Cancelled comic weighs in on Lib’s abortion bid ‘no-brainer’
The comedian who says she was dumped by two Adelaide pubs over her views on gender identity gave her verdict after performing at a women-only event.
The rubbish rule this council is using to slug locals $312
How quickly do you bring in your bins? It might not be fast enough for this Adelaide council. It’s been laying down the law before bringing in the bucks.