Giant Australian Energy Hub Starts Next Phase

Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

Summary

The next phase of one of the largest renewable energy hubs in Australia has been given the green light.

Planning permission has been granted to French developer Neoen for the second phase of the Goyder Renewables Zone (GRZ) of wind, solar and battery storage projects in South Australia. 

Big Clean Energy Boost

The federal green light means the company will now move ahead with Goyder North stages 1 and 2, which will boast 99 turbines with a combined generating capacity of 600 megawatts (MW). The overall project, which has state government approval and is located near Burra in the Goyder region, is looking to develop 1,200 MW of wind generation, 600 MW of solar power and up to 900 MW of battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity. Industrial Info is tracking six Goyder-related projects worth US$3.8 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. 

Goyder South Operational

The news comes just a few months after Neoen's Goyder South windfarm was officially commissioned. Built in two stages, Goyder South is the largest windfarm in South Australia, and in Neoen's portfolio, boosting wind generation in South Australia by more than 20% as the state aims to be 100% renewable by 2027. It uses 75 wind turbines. Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia's Minister for Energy and Mining, said: "I commend Neoen on this significant investment and seamless development of what is now the biggest windfarm in South Australia. We are well on track for South Australia to meet its goal of 100% net renewables generation by 2027, and projects such as this are at the vanguard of that ambition. The quality of the wind resource here in South Australia, combined with abundant solar, makes it clear why renewable energy companies from around the world are lining up to invest in South Australia."

Neoen has secured a number of offtake deals for Goyder South. Three long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) have been signed: 

• A 14-year contract for 100 MW with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government, supporting its goal of net-zero emissions by 2045
• A 10-year agreement for 40 MW with Flow Power, an Australian electricity retailer.
• A 70-MW renewable energy baseload agreement with mining company BHP that will include battery power from Neoen's Blyth Battery for its Olympic Dam copper mine in SA.

Mining Going Green

In addition to its power deal from Goyder South, miner BHP has inked its largest renewable-energy agreement to date in South Australia with a 100-MW baseload supply deal for Neoen's forthcoming Goyder North wind and battery project. It will be used to supply power to the Olympic Dam copper mine, smelter and refinery, as well as the Carrapateena and Prominent Hill mines. Anna Wiley, BHP Copper SA asset president, said: "BHP's Copper SA operations are taking another step forward in our decarbonisation journey with its third renewable power arrangement. We are using the size and scale of our copper operations to underpin significant new investment in renewable electricity in South Australia." In the medium term, BHP wants to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions from its operations (scopes 1 and 2) by at least 30% by 2030, from a 2020 baseline, and to reach net zero by 2050.

Key Takeaways

• Federal green light for the Goyder North 600-megawatt (MW) windfarm in South Australia.
• It will be the largest windfarm in South Australia when commissioned, eclipsing the 412 MW Goyder South windfarm commissioned last October.
• Industrial Info is tracking six Goyder Renewables Zone (GRZ) wind, solar and battery storage projects worth US$3.8 billion. 

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