Solar River Project

Solar River Project
Map
CountryAustralia
Locationnorth of Robertstown, South Australia
Coordinates33°47′S 139°23′E / 33.78°S 139.38°E / -33.78; 139.38
StatusProposed
Construction beganMid-2022 (proposed)
Construction costA$450 million
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Collectors628,000 (stage 1)
Site area5,000 hectares (12,000 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity200 MW (stage 1)
200 MW (stage 2)
Storage capacity120 MW·h (stage 1)
150 MW·h (stage 2)
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Solar River Project is a proposed photovoltaic power station planned to be built near Robertstown in South Australia.[1] The project received development approval from the Government of South Australia in June 2018 and was expected to start construction early in 2019.[2] However, as of November 2021, the project was still proposed to be constructed, but work on site was not expected until at least the second half of 2022.[3]

The company developing it is based at the University of Adelaide's venture incubator, ThincLab.[4] The project has the support of the Ngadjuri people and the Regional Council of Goyder.[citation needed]

Stage 1 includes 200 MW of solar photovoltaic electricity generation and a 120 MW·h lithium ion battery system and was proposed to start construction early in 2019, generating its first generation before the end of the same year. Stage 1 will consist of one hundred single-axis tracker arrays each generating 2 MW and approximately 310 by 180 metres (1,020 by 590 ft)[5] for a total area of 3,200 by 1,800 metres (10,500 by 5,900 ft). Stage 2 is proposed to provide another 200 MW of generation and a 150 MW·h battery.[5]

The land is north of Goyder's Line and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of the Goyder Highway on crown land unsuitable for cropping due to the low rainfall.[6]

Downer Group was engaged in January 2019 for early contractor involvement, with construction expected to commence in July 2019 and stage 1 to take two years to build. The project had provision for three more stages, depending on market and network conditions.[7] In July, the project's website said that construction would start in the fourth quarter of 2019.[8] By November 2019, this had slipped to the first quarter of 2020.[9]

Alinta Energy had committed to buy 75% of the solar farm's output for 15 years,[10][11] however that contract expired due to delays in the project caused by issues such as the withdrawal of Downer Group as EPC contractor.[12]

The grid-connected battery will be supplied by GE Renewable Energy. It is expected to be 100MW/300MWh, larger than any grid-connected batteries in the world at the time of its announcement in 2019.[13]

References

  1. ^ May, Jason (4 December 2017). "Solar River Project Development Application" (PDF). Application on notification – Crown Development. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  2. ^ Evans, Richard (25 June 2018). "Groundbreaking Solar River Project to slash the cost of renewable energy to 90,000 SA homes". The Advertiser. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  3. ^ Zerner, Mel (26 November 2021). "Renewables Projects Update Report". What's Happening in Goyder. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Reliable renewable energy is possible with The Solar River Project". University of Adelaide. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b Bloch, Michael (26 June 2018). "Massive Solar + Storage Facility For South Australia To Proceed". Solar Quotes Blog. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Major PV solar farm approved in outback South Australia". The LEAD. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. ^ Etheridge, Michelle (28 January 2019). "Major milestone for Solar River renewable energy project in SA's Mid North". The Advertiser. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. ^ "The Solar River Project". Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019. Project Construction Start Date Q4 2019
  9. ^ "The Solar River Project". Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019. Project Construction Start Date Q1 2020
  10. ^ Vorrath, Sophie (18 July 2019). "Alinta signs up for huge solar and battery project in South Australia". Renew Economy. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  11. ^ Russell, Chris (17 July 2019). "Solar River project at Robertstown to sell power to Alinta Energy". The Advertiser. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  12. ^ Parkinson, Giles (4 September 2020). "Solar River solar and battery project still confident, despite loss of Alinta contract". Renew Economy. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  13. ^ Vorrath, Sophie (19 September 2019). "GE to supply world's biggest battery for South Australia Solar River project". Renew Economy. Retrieved 19 September 2019.


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