Federal Approval for Goyder Wind and Solar Project in South Australia
The expansive Goyder wind and solar battery project in South Australia is advancing, with the northern section’s initial two stages receiving approval from federal authorities.
The project encompasses 99 turbines within the 600 megawatt (MW) Goyder North stages 1 and 2, which have been approved by the EPBC, subject to conditions regarding offsets, land clearing, and the management of pygmy blue-tongued lizards and Flinders Ranges worm lizards.
Adjustments Made to Project Stages
Last year, Neoen made adjustments to these two stages by eliminating five turbines and incorporating 12 new ones at a fresh section at the northern edge of the site. Furthermore, the turbines have been slightly enlarged, now boasting blades that are 95 metres long, receiving the necessary approval from the EPBC for this upgrade.
Battery Storage Plans Remain Steady
The envisioned battery energy storage system (BESS) has a capacity of 225 MW/900MWh and will occupy a smaller footprint than previously planned, remaining unchanged overall.
Ownership Transition and Future Aspirations
Despite Neoen’s branding dominating the Goyder renewable energy hub, ownership has shifted to Brookfield following its $10.2 billion acquisition of the French company completed in March of last year. The broader vision for the Goyder project aims to achieve over 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar generation, coupled with various batteries capable of providing up to 1,800 MW of capacity and three hours of storage.
Developing Renewable Energy Zone
As planning progresses for the northern section, Goyder South became the inaugural phase of the significant Goyder Renewables Zone, located near Burra in South Australia’s mid-north. This zone is expected to become one of the largest hybrid wind, solar, and battery projects in the nation.
The project sites are positioned north of the network crossroads, where interstate EnergyConnect links South Australia with New South Wales. Future transmission lines will facilitate power delivery to key demand centres, such as Whyalla and Perth.
Milestone Achievements and Partnerships
The first stage of the Goyder South project, delivering 412 MW, was officially launched last year, supported by a 2020 agreement with the ACT government for 100 MW of capacity, which secured the lowest publicly declared feed-in tariff in Australia at just $44.97 per megawatt hour.
The South project also includes a solar initiative of 600 MW, an additional 600 MW of wind power, along with a 900 MW, 1,800 megawatt hour (MWh) battery, all of which have received state planning permissions, according to Neoen.
Innovative Contracts with BHP
Neoen has forged an innovative “baseload renewables” contract with BHP for an additional 200 MW of wind power from Goyder South, supported by Neoen’s newly completed Blyth battery. This partnership is intended to power BHP’s extensive Olympic Dam copper mine and smelter, along with nearby operations.
Subsequently, Neoen established a second “baseload renewables” contract with BHP, this time involving a 300 MW contribution from the upcoming Goyder North wind project, which will be bolstered by a soon-to-be-constructed 200 MW, 800 MWh Goyder battery.
