Federal Approval for Goyder Wind and Solar Project in South Australia
The expansive Goyder wind, solar, and battery project by Neoen in South Australia is steadily progressing, with the federal government approving plans for the first two stages of the northern section.
The approvals for the Goyder North stages 1 and 2, comprising 99 turbines and boasting a total capacity of 600 megawatts (MW), come with specific conditions regarding offsets, land clearing, and the protection of endemic species like the pygmy blue-tongued lizard and Flinders Ranges worm lizard.
Changes and Enhancements to the Project
Last year, Neoen revised the plans for these two stages, reducing the number of turbines by five whilst adding twelve new turbines in a different area at the northern end of the site. Additionally, the company sought and received approval from the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) to increase the height of the turbine blades by 5 metres, bringing their total length to 95 metres.
The design for the proposed 225 MW/900MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) remains the same but will occupy a smaller land area.
Ownership and Future Prospects
Although Neoen’s branding continues to be prominent throughout the Goyder renewable energy hub, the project is now under the ownership of Brookfield, which completed a £10.2 billion acquisition of the French company in March of the previous year.
The grand vision behind the entire initiative aims for over 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar generation, along with various battery systems capable of achieving up to 1,800 MW and providing three hours of storage capacity.
Growing Renewable Energy Zone
As planning efforts for the northern section progress, Goyder South stands out as the initiation point for the broader Goyder Renewables Zone, situated near Burra in the mid-north region of the state, recognised as one of the largest hybrid projects combining wind, solar, and battery technology in the nation.
This renewal zone is located north of critical network intersections, where the interstate EnergyConnect links South Australia to New South Wales, facilitating the construction of new transmission lines that will deliver power to high-demand locations such as Whyalla and Perth.
Recent Developments and Contracts
The initial 412 MW phase of the Goyder South project commenced operations last year, supported by a 2020 agreement with the ACT government. This deal secured 100 MW of capacity at Australia’s lowest publicly announced feed-in tariff, priced at just $44.97 per megawatt hour.
Goyder South encompasses a 600 MW solar initiative and an additional 600 MW of wind power, coupled with a significant 900 MW, 1,800 MWh battery, all of which have received their requisite state planning permits according to Neoen.
Moreover, Neoen has engaged in a groundbreaking “baseload renewables” contract with BHP, providing an additional 200 MW of wind capacity from Goyder South. This initiative is further augmented by the Blyth battery, aiding power supply to BHP’s substantial Olympic Dam copper mine and adjacent operations.
Following this, Neoen secured a second “baseload renewables” agreement with BHP, this time for 300 MW from the upcoming Goyder North wind project, supported by the impending establishment of a 200 MW, 800 MWh Goyder battery.
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