Jacana Energy opens EOI for three new Darwin, Katherine solar farms

The NT government has revealed a plan to power 21,000 Territory homes with a trio of new solar farms – but it’s unclear when three existing farms, built as many years ago, will connect to the grid.

The Territory government is seeking to double its renewable energy supply with a trio of new solar farms in the Top End.

However it remains unclear when three existing solar farms, built as many years ago, will start supplying power to households.

The government-owned Jacana Energy has announced it will open expressions of interest for the private sector to build and supply 100 megawatts of renewable energy to the Darwin-Katherine grid.

The proposed project is expected to power 21,000 households per year, providing about 15 per cent of the Territory’s total power supply.

It also would mark a step towards the government’s ambitious goal of 50 per cent renewable energy by the end of this decade – an increase of about 35 per cent on the status quo.

Jacana Energy chief executive Louisa Kinnear (right) with Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler, who together announced the EOI for 100MW of renewable power. Picture: Annabel Bowles

Jacana Energy chief executive Louise Kinnear said the EOI was open to local, national and international proponents to build three 30-35MW solar farms.

“The reason that we’re asking for three lots of 30-35MW is really about sizing them appropriately to connect safely and reliably,” she said.

“Any bigger than that at one point in time, you wouldn’t be able to safely connect … what we can (also) do is stage that development over time.”

However the proposed facilities are larger than the three existing but largely idle farms built at Batchelor, Manton Dam and Katherine, two of which are 10MW and the other is 25MW.

Ms Kinnear said there was “nothing wrong” with those farms, owned by Italian company Eni and built in 2020.

A 12.5MW solar farm built in Batchelor in 2020 is yet to supply power to the Darwin-Katherine grid. Picture: Che Chorley

“They’re just going through the connection and commissioning process,” she said.

“Given that they’re the first solar farms to ever connect into the grid, obviously we need to make sure that they’ve been connected in a safe and reliable way for Territorians – so I think we’re respecting that process.”

Ms Kinnear would not be drawn on when they would come online but said it was expected to be before the new prospective farms, which are planned to enter the grid in 2027.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the new farms were expected to bring $200m of investment into the Territory, as well as 150 new jobs during construction.

She denied the government was developing policy on the run to reach its renewables target, pointing to several projects including a $45m battery on Channel Island.

“The remote power system strategy will add about 5 per cent towards that target and that’s about getting rid of the diesel generators on our remote communities and instead, changing those over to solar,” she said.

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler downplayed the issue of existing but disconnected solar farms and said the government had a clear strategy to reach 50 per cent renewable power by 2030. Picture: Annabel Bowles

“There’s a pilot at Wurrumiyanga at the moment on the Tiwi Islands, then that project will roll out (to) 72 remote communities that have diesel generators.

“One of the big things we have in the Territory is a really strong uptake of solar PV on rooftops, so that goes towards the target as well.”

Opposition renewables and energy spokesman Josh Burgoyne said the government should explain why existing solar farms had not been connected before making new promises.

“People are sick of Labor’s announcements that never come to anything,” he said.

“Under Labor the Territory has no pathway forward to ensure the lights are kept on, they have mismanaged our gas industry which is key to transitioning to renewable energy.

“The only way we can transition to renewable energy is through a strong economic plan.”

The EOI opens on August 22 and will close after five weeks.