Renewables Projects Update – March 2021
Read about the current projects happening or proposed in our area from Mel Zerner:
ROBERTSTOWN POWER SUBSTATION UPGRADE
This project involves an upgrade & expansion of the power substation in readiness for the connection of other renewables projects to the substation over the next years. The project commenced in March 2020 & is expected to be completed by June 2021. Enerven, the principal electrical contractor & Catcon, the civil contractor, have completed their work & will be finishing on site by the end of March 2021. At its peak there were around 90 – 100 workers on site.
To complete the project, the following electrical engineer companies are working on the installation of the synchronous condensers which are used to support the power load & network: Siemens, DMB Engineering & ARA Electrical.
The number of workers currently on site is around 40-50 & they are being accommodated in various houses, motels, hotels, bed and breakfast places, caravan parks & cottages in Robertstown, Burra, Eudunda, Kapunda, Farrell Flat & Tarnma. One of the above companies required accommodation for 20 workers for 6 weeks from mid-March to the end of April & they are staying in 6 fully furnished houses in Robertstown, Eudunda, Farrell Flat & Tarnma.
The Eudunda Bakery have provided a breakfast, coffee & lunch service to the workers from early December 2020 to mid- March 2021 & this was much appreciated by the workers. There is also extensive use of local hotels, restaurants, supermarket & motor vehicle fuel & repair services across the region. The various contractors have expressed their thanks for the assistance they have received in accessing and connecting to the accommodation providers & businesses in the local region.
SOLAR RIVER PROJECT – Near Florieton between Burra & Morgan.
The project includes a 200MW photovoltaic array comprising 630000 solar panels and a 200MW battery at a capital cost of $480 million. The project is estimated to require 250 workers over the construction period of 2 years. A contracting company, AECOM, is doing technical & engineering work on a Transmission Construction Agreement which is expected to be completed in the September 2021 quarter. After that, the company will progress to appointing an Engineering Procurement Construction contractor with construction estimated to commence at the beginning of 2022.
ROBERTSTOWN SOLAR – Near Robertstown Power Substation, 5kms north east of Robertstown.
The project is proposed to be an integrated but separately operated photovoltaic energy generation system of 500MW generation capacity & a 250MW/1000MWh battery energy storage system that will feed into the Robertstown Substation. The capital cost is estimated at $1.1 billion. 275 workers are expected to be employed over the two year life of the project. The company is in the process of finalising the capital partner in the project as well as working on the specifications of the connection of the project to the grid and geo-technical and ecological assessments. It is expected that the Engineering Procurement Construction contractor will be appointed in the December 2021 quarter & construction will commence at the beginning of 2022.
GOYDER RENEWABLES PROJECT – NEOEN – Stage 1, 2 & 3 – South of Burra & north of Robertstown near World’s End & Bright.
The first stage of the project will feature 163 wind turbines, 3000ha of solar panels and a huge lithium iron battery generating power of up to 900MW. It is expected that the project will go over 5 stages – 3 stages in Goyder South & 2 stages of Goyder North. The total project will have a capital cost of $3 billion and provide employment for up to 1100 workers over a 5 to 6 year period. A Development Application was lodged in August 2020. Construction is expected to commence later in 2021.
ROBERTSTOWN INTERCONNECTOR PROJECT – East of the Robertstown Power Substation near Florieton.
The Project Energy Connect transmission plan will link South Australia (Robertstown) to NSW (Wagga Wagga) with a 800MW transfer capacity. It will involve the construction of a 330KV above ground transmission line. Electranet are managing the project in South Australia at a cost of $163 million. The project is expected to commence in 2022 & generate employment for 200 workers during the construction phase. Electranet has advised that Early Contractor Involvement has been awarded to Downer Utilities Australia & UGL Engineering.
AUSTRALIA PLAINS SOLAR FARM – GREEN GOLD ENERGY – Approx 16 kms north east of Eudunda.
Green Gold Energy plan to build a 150MW solar farm commencing in the first quarter of 2022 with 300 jobs created. However, there may be some delay to the expected commencement date as they have had to amend the Development Application for a new location nearby and they are in the process of resubmitting to the State Commission Assessment Panel. They are also planning a 100MW solar farm on the Goyder Highway near Morgan and have recently lodged a Development Application for that project.
TWIN CREEK WIND FARM – RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS – Between Eudunda and Kapunda.
The project involves the construction of 51 wind turbines producing 613000 MWh of power per year. Approx 160 workers are expected during construction which is now scheduled to commence in September 2022.
LOCAL ADVANTAGES & BENEFITS
Goyder Council councilors & staff (RCOG), the Eudunda Community Business & Tourism Committee (ECBAT) & the Robertstown & District Community & Management Committee are ensuring that the maximum possible impact & interaction is gained from these projects in the local communities from Burra to Eudunda by connecting the contractors of each project to the local labour force, accommodation & food providers & other businesses. This is being done as a community service project with Mel Zerner, a former local Eudunda resident, voluntarily assisting Goyder Council & the other community groups in this initiative. Mel is in regular contact with the key owners or employees of all of the above projects to obtain status reports and then respond to their local requirements as required.
If you have any questions on the status of the any of the above projects or local requirements or want to ensure that your accommodation, labour or local business services are included on the registers, please contact Mel on Mobile 0418852353.
