Molten silicon storage hopeful 1414 Degrees takes full ownership of Aurora Energy Precinct

Australian thermal storage developer 1414 Degrees has taken full ownership of the Aurora Energy Precinct near Port Augusta in South Australia, marking the latest chapter for the site that once proposed to host a landmark solar thermal plant before evolving into a hybrid renewables hub.

1414 Degrees (14D) announced this week that it has secured full control of the Aurora Energy Precinct by acquiring Vast Solar Aurora, one of a handful of subsidiaries of Vast Renewables, a concentrating solar power (CSP) hopeful that entered administration late last year.

Aurora originally planned to host a 70 MW solar PV facility and a 150 MW solar tower with eight hours of molten salt storage, but its proponent, the US-based Solar Reserve, collapsed and the project moved under the ownership of SiliconAurora, a joint venture between concentrated solar power (CSP) developer Vast, and 1414 Degrees (14D).

14D bought up the failed project later in 2019 with the goal of developing the site as a solar PV farm backed by their proprietary thermal energy storage system (TESS).

Vast Renewables then acquired 50 per cent of the project in 2022 and the Aurora project evolved, again, securing state development approval for a battery energy storage system (BESS) up to 140 MW/280 MWh, 70 MW of solar PV and 150 MW of CSP as well as connection to the ElectraNet grid.

By 2024, the plans had changed again to a 140 MW, two hour (280 MWh) big battery and a much smaller 30 MW CSP plant with 288 MWh of thermal storage, co-located with a planned solar methanol demonstration project led by Vast and German integrated energy giant Mabanaft.

14D has also proposed to use the site to pilot its silicon-based thermal energy storage system, or TESS-GRID technology, which it says can deliver electricity firming services to similar scale as a solar power tower project, offering up to eight hours of storage.

Vast, however, was put into voluntary administration late last year. And while administrators said at the time that the move did not relate to Vast’s US-based entities, or the SiliconAurora green energy hub, the news cast further doubt over the joint development of the project.

Since November, 1414 Degrees has progressed the 275kV transmission connection, identified a 33 kV development pathway, and signed a heads of agreement for the proposed development of up to 1 GW of AI data centre infrastructure.

And rhis week 1414 Degrees confirmed it will acquire Vast Solar Aurora for $350,000, dissolving the previous JV structure and securing the ability to progress financing, commercial engagement, and staged development across the precinct.

14D says the transaction consolidates all project entities, site interests, and associated development approvals relating to the precinct under 1414 Degrees’ ownership.

Having secured full ownership, 1414 Degrees is looking to progress the project into the next phase of development, which will focus on staged infrastructure delivery, securing customers – including a potential 1 GW data centre – and rounding out development.

“Securing full ownership of Aurora gives 1414 Degrees control of a strategically important energy and infrastructure precinct at a time when its commercial potential is becoming increasingly clear,” said Kevin Moriarty, executive chairman of 1414 Degrees.

“We have approval from AEMO for connection of the BESS and have signed a Heads of Agreement for up to 1 GW of AI data centre infrastructure.

“Aurora combines substantial land, scalable power infrastructure, renewable generation and storage potential in a location suited to major energy users. Our focus now is on converting that position into staged, commercially viable projects and revenue opportunities.”

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