Solar River Project
Solar River Project is a proposed photovoltaic power station planned to be built near Robertstown in South Australia. As of 2025, plans are for 210 MW solar, and a 256 MW battery.
| Solar River Project | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | north of Robertstown, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°47′S 139°23′E / 33.78°S 139.38°E |
| Status | Proposed |
| Construction began | 2027 |
| Construction cost | A$540 million |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Collectors | 628,000 (stage 1) |
| Site area | 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 210 MW |
| Storage capacity | 750 MW·h |
Solar River Project is a proposed photovoltaic power station planned to be built near Robertstown in South Australia.[1] As of 2025[update], plans are for 210 MW solar, and a 256 MW battery.[2]
History
[edit]The project received development approval from the Government of South Australia in June 2018 and was expected to start construction early in 2019.[3] However, as of November 2021[update], the project was still proposed to be constructed, but work on site was not expected until at least the second half of 2022.[4]
The company developing it is based at the University of Adelaide's venture incubator, ThincLab.[5] 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)[6] 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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8] In July, the project's website said that construction would start in the fourth quarter of 2019.[9] By November 2019, this had slipped to the first quarter of 2020.[10]
Alinta Energy had committed to buy 75% of the solar farm's output for 15 years,[11][12] however that contract expired due to delays in the project caused by issues such as the withdrawal of Downer Group as EPC contractor.[13]
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.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ May, Jason (4 December 2017). "Solar River Project Development Application" (PDF). Application on notification – Crown Development. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ Heynes, George (6 January 2025). "ZEN Energy, HDRE acquire 210MW solar-plus-storage site via new Australian joint venture". PV Tech.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Zerner, Mel (26 November 2021). "Renewables Projects Update Report". What's Happening in Goyder. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ "Reliable renewable energy is possible with The Solar River Project". University of Adelaide. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ a b Bloch, Michael (26 June 2018). "Massive Solar + Storage Facility For South Australia To Proceed". Solar Quotes Blog. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ "Major PV solar farm approved in outback South Australia". The LEAD. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ Etheridge, Michelle (28 January 2019). "Major milestone for Solar River renewable energy project in SA's Mid North". The Advertiser. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ "The Solar River Project". Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
Project Construction Start Date Q4 2019
- ^ "The Solar River Project". Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
Project Construction Start Date Q1 2020
- ^ Vorrath, Sophie (18 July 2019). "Alinta signs up for huge solar and battery project in South Australia". Renew Economy. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ Russell, Chris (17 July 2019). "Solar River project at Robertstown to sell power to Alinta Energy". The Advertiser. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ Parkinson, Giles (4 September 2020). "Solar River solar and battery project still confident, despite loss of Alinta contract". Renew Economy. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
- ^ Vorrath, Sophie (19 September 2019). "GE to supply world's biggest battery for South Australia Solar River project". Renew Economy. Retrieved 19 September 2019.