Solar

South Australia’s second biggest solar farm begins production

Published by

South Australia’s 108MW Tailem Bend solar farm started sending electricity to the grid last week, kicking off operations for the state’s second large scale solar project.

As we reported here, the project, located about 95kms south-east of Adelaide, was developed by Singapore-based Vena Energy and has contracted all of its output to the federal government-owned generator and retailer Snowy Hydro for 22 years.

It is expected to reach full production in mid-April.

The $170 million Tailem Bend project joins Bungala solar farm near Port Augusta as the first large-scale solar projects to begin production in South Australia, where the emphasis has been on large-scale wind behind-the-meter rooftop solar.

The solar farm will only be allowed to export a maximum of 95MW (AC) at any one time as the result of rules laid down by AEMO to ensure such facilities can deliver sufficient “reactive power”, and not diminish the grid’s reliability.

 

Sophie Vorrath

Sophie is editor of One Step Off The Grid and deputy editor of its sister site, Renew Economy. She is the co-host of the Solar Insiders Podcast. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Could $1 billion actually bring solar manufacturing back to Australia? It’s worth a shot

By 2050, solar should provide most of our electricity – but only if we have enough…

28 March 2024

Hydro Tasmania on the hunt for a new CEO amid political and renewable turmoil

Tasmanian utility begins hunt for new CEO, following the news that current chief will step…

28 March 2024

Capacity Investment Scheme needs to set high bar for communities hosting renewables

Without exception, the CIS should encourage projects that do good community engagement, with good environmental…

28 March 2024

Australia’s biggest coal generator teams up with SunDrive to make solar at Liddell

AGL signs MoU with Cannon-Brookes backed PV innovator SunDrive to explore "first of its kind"…

28 March 2024

Solar ducks and big batteries: How Alice Springs grid could run five hours a day with no fossil fuels

Alice Springs may be able to run on 100 pct renewables for an average five…

28 March 2024

“Unconscionable:” Eraring delay could cost $150m a year, adding to massive Origin windfall, report says

New analysis says the potential taxpayer cost of keeping Eraring open for another few years…

28 March 2024