State launches huge new renewables tender for land “twice the size of Kangaroo Island”

South Australia has launched a 13-week tender seeking new solar, wind and storage project proposals across a chunk of the state the government has described as “twice the size of Kangaroo Island.”

Following up on a promise made in the days leading up to the February state election, the since re-elected Labor government has confirmed that an area of more than 11,000 square kilometres is now open to the potential development of large-scale renewable energy projects.

The South Australian department for energy and mining announced last week that applications were open for renewable energy feasibility licenses over two massive release areas in the state’s southern central region: the Gawler Ranges East and Whyalla West.

The tender launch reiterates what the Department of energy and mining (DEM) told Renew Economy in February: that there is no plan to put any limits on any specific technology types, but rather to see what the market proposes as the best use of the land and the renewable energy resources in the area.

The two release areas include some of the highest co-incident wind and solar resources in the state, with government estimates suggesting that the areas could support renewable energy projects capable of generating electricity equivalent to the needs of 500,000 homes.

The Gawler Ranges East release area comprises approximately 5,200 km-squared on the Upper Eyre Peninsula, and the Whyalla West release area spreads across the Upper Spencer Gulf region, spanning approximately 6,500 km-squared.

Both areas were selected after an extensive consultation process with pastoralists, native title groups, other landholders, and regional communities, as well as with subject matter experts across the government to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place for key locations within the release areas.

The government says the 13-week tender period allows applicants to prepare their bids and engage with native title holders on an agreement.

“Tenders must address the prescribed criteria in their application, including how they plan to deliver the content within a timeframe, their experience, environmental management credentials and how the project will benefit the state and the traditional custodians of the land,” the notice says.

Calls for tenders in both areas will be open until 28 June 2026. More information is available from the department for energy and mining website here.

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