Large Scale Solar Project On The Cards For SA’s Moonta

Image: jaidee

A solar farm may soon be putting old mining land on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula to good use.

South Australia’s Copper Triangle, which mainly exists within the three towns of Kadina, Moonta and Wallaroo, was named such due to the region’s history of copper mining.

One of those mines was Wheal Hughes, which operated at various stages during the 19th century, then again from 1990 to 1993. These days Wheale Hughes is a tourist attraction.

While copper mining may have ended long ago, the scars on the landscape still remain, but some of that scarring may be filled in by solar panels.

According to a document from Copper Coast Council, an as-yet unnamed organisation is interested in leasing part of the land to build a 5MW solar farm, which will occupy an approximate area within the yellow line indicated below.

Image: Copper Coast Council

The satellite imagery makes it very clear that unlike some solar farm developments, this one wouldn’t be taking up prime agricultural land. The site is approximate 3 kilometres from the town of Moonta.

A recommendation to sign and execute a 30 year commercial lease for the area to a “suitable organisation” for solar power production was carried at Council’s August 1 meeting. Council isn’t putting all its bets on the company currently interested in building the plant following through.

“The recommendation is broad enough to allow staff to negotiate with other organisations should this first business fail to proceed with developing this site,” stated the agenda for the meeting.

If this project proceeds, it could turn out to be the largest solar installation in the Copper Triangle and Yorke Peninsula.

Dalrymple Battery Project Update

Elsewhere on the Peninsula, ElectraNet’s ESCRI-SA grid connected 30 MW / 8 MWh battery storage system at Dalrymple sub-station, seven kilometres south-west of Stansbury, appears to be just about ready for prime time. The facility will be operating with the 90 MW Wattle Point Wind Farm and local rooftop solar power systems to provide a number of services, including fast frequency response (FFR) and back-up power.

According to the project website, formal commissioning and testing of the Dalrymple battery is in progress and is expected to be completed this month. Live statistics for the wind and battery facility can be viewed here.

The $30 million project has been partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which kicked in $12 million.