Federal Approval for Goyder Wind and Solar Project in South Australia
The ambitious Goyder wind, solar, and battery initiative led by Neoen in South Australia is gaining momentum, with the federal government granting approval for stages 1 and 2 of the northern section.
The project includes 99 turbines with a total capacity of 600 megawatts (MW) in the Goyder North sections 1 and 2, which is now EPBC-approved, subject to conditions regarding native offset measures, land clearing, and the protection of local wildlife such as pygmy blue-tongued lizards and Flinders Ranges worm lizards.
Revisions to Project Design
Last year, Neoen made adjustments to the design of the two stages, eliminating five turbines while adding 12 new ones at the northern end of the site. Additionally, they increased the turbine height, receiving EPBC approval to extend the blade length by an additional 5 metres, bringing them to a total of 95 metres.
The planned battery energy storage system (BESS) of 225 MW/900MWh remains unchanged, though it will occupy a smaller area.
Ownership and Future Vision
Despite Neoen’s branding still being prominent at the Goyder renewable energy hub, ownership has transitioned to Brookfield, following their acquisition of the French company for $10.2 billion, completed in March last year.
The broader vision for the Goyder project encompasses over 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar power generation, alongside multiple batteries with a potential total capacity of up to 1,800 MW and three hours of energy storage.
While preparations for the northern section progress, Goyder South was the initial phase within the larger Goyder Renewables Zone, situated near Burra in the mid-north of the state. This area is shaping up to be one of Australia’s largest integrations of wind, solar, and battery systems.
The sites are strategically located north of the intersection of the EnergyConnect transmission line that links South Australia with New South Wales, with new planned transmission lines set to deliver electricity to demand hubs in Whyalla and Perth.
The inaugural 412 MW stage of the Goyder South project commenced operations last year and is underpinned by a 2020 agreement with the ACT government to supply 100 MW of its capacity at a record-low feed-in tariff of $44.97 per megawatt hour.
Goyder South also comprises a 600 MW solar installation and an additional 600 MW of wind, alongside a 900 MW and 1,800 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery, all of which have reportedly secured state planning permits.
Innovative Contracts with BHP
Neoen has pioneered a novel “baseload renewables” agreement with BHP to supply an additional 200 MW of wind power from Goyder South, supported by Neoen’s recently completed Blyth battery, aimed to support operations at BHP’s extensive Olympic Dam copper mine and smelting facility, as well as adjacent sites.
Moreover, Neoen has since established a further “baseload renewables” contract with BHP for 300 MW from the new Goyder North wind project, reinforced by the forthcoming construction of the 200 MW, 800 MWh Goyder battery.
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