News & Discussion: Electricity Infrastructure

[rubberman]

https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-farm- ... plant/amp/

A proposal for solar plus storage plus sheep grazing near the existing Callide power station in Queensland just got environmental approval.

Callide is closing in 2028. No nuclear plants going to be built here in four years.

[SouthAussie94]

I think the next fight will be when Wind farms inevitably improve and need less space.

The space required for a wind farm, ignoring geography of the area for a moment, is dictated by the height of the turbine and the length of the blades.

Turbines are getting taller as technology increases, which in turn results in longer blades. Taller towers, longer blades means that the space required between two turbines also increases, which means that the size of the wind farm increases too.

Taller towers generally generate more electricity though, so theoretically less towers are needed within a windfarm to generate the same amount of power.

[Waewick]

I think the next fight will be when Wind farms inevitably improve and need less space.

The space required for a wind farm, ignoring geography of the area for a moment, is dictated by the height of the turbine and the length of the blades.

Turbines are getting taller as technology increases, which in turn results in longer blades. Taller towers, longer blades means that the space required between two turbines also increases, which means that the size of the wind farm increases too.

Taller towers generally generate more electricity, though, so theoretically, fewer towers are needed within a windfarm to generate the same amount of power.

I had made some potentially fatal assumptions that as they get bigger/more efficient, the land requirement would decrease.

But ultimately, people may want the same or bigger buffer between them so they won't get any smaller.

I guess time will tell what happens.

[Waewick]

https://reneweconomy.com.au/huge-financ ... -projects/

Another big battery

[SBD]

I think the next fight will be when Wind farms inevitably improve and need less space.

The space required for a wind farm, ignoring geography of the area for a moment, is dictated by the height of the turbine and the length of the blades.

Turbines are getting taller as technology increases, which in turn results in longer blades. Taller towers, longer blades means that the space required between two turbines also increases, which means that the size of the wind farm increases too.

Taller towers generally generate more electricity, though, so theoretically, fewer towers are needed within a windfarm to generate the same amount of power.

I had made some potentially fatal assumptions that as they get bigger/more efficient, the land requirement would decrease.

But ultimately, people may want the same or bigger buffer between them so they won't get any smaller.

I guess time will tell what happens.

The redesign for the Palmer Wind Farm has gone from 103 turbines for 300MW to 40 turbines for 288MW, and uses 5000ha less land (I haven't quickly found the total land, only the difference). https://www.tiltrenewables.com/assets-a ... Wind-Farm/

[PeFe]

More solar panels for Adelaide Airport

From One Step Off The Grid

Airport triples rooftop solar capacity to take self-generation to new heights



Adelaide Airport, the fifth largest airport in Australia, has unveiled plans to nearly triple the size of rooftop solar capacity, with the addition of another 3,700-plus panels on its domestic and international terminal buildings. The new 2.3MW solar will be installed by Iberdrola Australia and adds to an existing 1.28MW of PV, 1.17MW of which is installed on the airport’s short-term carpark.

The solar carpark system, completed in mid-2016, added to the small terminal rooftop array that was installed in 2007, and took total capacity up to 1.28MW, supplying around 10 per cent of the airport’s electricity needs.

Adelaide Airport’s electricity already comes from 100% renewables – largely through offtakes from the three Lake Bonney wind farms – but the additional rooftop system means more self-generated, super cheap solar.

“The project will result in Adelaide Airport exceeding our target to self-generate 15 per cent of our airport precinct electricity needs from onsite renewable energy,” said managing director Brenton Cox.

“Our purpose is to proudly connect and shape South Australia, our vision is to be everyone’s favourite airport and sustainability is a core feature of our strategic plan.

“Cost effective, renewable energy is important for the long-term sustainability of our organisation and our partners,” Cox says.

At the time of its installation, Adelaide Airport’s 1.17MW rooftop solar system was Australia’s largest airport solar installation, but that record has since been shattered by larger airports across the country.

Adelaide Airport lost out to Brisbane Airport in 2019 when a 5.725MW installation was brought online in 2019 – consisting of nearly 21,000 solar panels spread across six sites including ground-mounted panels and rooftop installations.

Brisbane Airport is also currently building on this achievement, installing another 5,000 solar panels atop its international terminal roof and carpark.

But depending on the definition of an “airport solar installation”, Melbourne Airport currently beats allcomers with a 12MW facility located at Oaklands Junction under the approach to the north-south runway.

Melbourne Airport began operating the 12MW facility in 2021, but in 2023 announced that it would begin constructing a second 7.5MW solar farm adjacent to the Oaklands Junction farm.

Together, the two solar farms are expected to generate 34GWh of electricity each year, providing approximately 40 per cent of the airport’s total electricity consumption needs.

https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/airpor ... w-heights/

[PeFe]

This Lime Coast battery has been granted government approval.....500mw/1500mwh.....will be South Australia's largest. Sited near the Victorian border (and the Heywood interconnector) this battery can easily provide power to South Australia and Victoria.

On the Victorian side of the border there is a proposal for an even larger battery, 1500mw/2500mwh, absolutely ginormous. This increases South Australia's potential market across the border....even if Victoria doesn't need the electricity the battery can recharge using excess South Australian renewables.

From Renew Economy

South Australia’s biggest battery set for construction following “milestone” approval



Construction of what will be South Australia’s biggest battery – and one of the largest in the country – will get underway towards the end of 2024, after the huge project was given the all clear by the state government.

UK energy storage developer Pacific Green said on Wednesday that it had achieved planning consent for the 500MW, 1500MWh Limestone Coast Energy Project in the state’s south east, near the border with Victoria.

Pacific Green Australia says the battery energy storage system will be developed and built in two phases over the coming 36 months, with the first phase expected to be operational in the second half of 2026.

“This is a major milestone for the Limestone Coast Energy Park assets, and we are pleased that the South Australian government has recognised the rigorous assessment and community consultation work we have undertaken to date,” said Pacific Green chief Joel Alexander.

“We look forward to re-engaging with the local community to maximise the tangible economic benefits of the Limestone Coast Energy Parks and to ensure funding and local contracting opportunities are open to all relevant groups.”

The company says it has launched a supplier portal and will host a local supplier networking morning in the coming weeks.

Pacific Green first announced its plans for the Limestone Coast Energy Park in November of last year, after securing exclusive rights to a strategically located site across from an existing substation that feeds into the Heywood Interconnector, that links South Australia and Victoria.

The idea is for the battery to charge and discharge excess renewable energy to and from Victoria, via its access to the interconnector, while also strengthening grid stability in renewables heavy South Australia.

“Our Limestone Coast Battery Energy Park can act as a load during the day, increasing the viability of even more solar and wind generation, whilst shifting energy to the times it is most valuable in the evening peak,” said Alexander, at the time.

“This momentum allows us to accelerate progress towards South Australia achieving 100% net renewables by 2030.”

The speed of the project’s approval suggests the state Labor government agrees.

“It’s encouraging to see more private sector investment in energy storage,” said South Australia energy minister Tom Koutasantonis in a statement on Wednesday.

“An increase in storage will provide greater capacity at peak times, extending the availability of electricity generated by cheap renewables.

“It’s also particularly pleasing that Pacific Green has chosen the South East of South Australia for its project – greater diversity of storage locations will strengthen our security of supply and reliability.”

Pacific Green had its start in the marine industry developing and installing technology to scrub carbon from shipping emissions. It has also dabbled in concentrated solar technologies and in 2021 moved into energy storage in a strategic partnership with battery supplier Shanghai Electric.

The company says it expects this project approval to be the first of many in Australia as part of its plans to build out an 8.5GWh energy storage pipeline across the country.

A second development, proposed for Portland in Victoria, currently sized at 1GW/2.5GWh is said to have project rights already secured and development approval expected to begin in the first quarter of 2024.

“Australia is witnessing one of the world’s fastest growth renewable energy markets, so it is critical that battery energy storage grows at the same pace to support the grid,” said Pacific Green chair Scott Poulter.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/south-austr ... -approval/

[PeFe]

Another large mine to be supplied with power using renewables, with a new battery as back up power supply.

From Renew Economy

Zen inks deal to supply firmed renewables for iron ore mine with load “bigger than Olympic Dam”



Zen Energy has made a tentative deal to supply firmed renewables to a massive new iron ore project that is expected to have a load bigger than Olympic Dam – BHP’s huge copper, gold and uranium deposit that accounts for around 7% of South Australia’s electricity consumption.

The deal, part of a non-binding memorandum of understanding between Zen and ASX-listed Magnetite Mines, will see the two companies collaborate on the development and provision of energy for the miner’s Razorback Project, which is being developed in South Australia.

In an ASX statement issued on Thursday by Magnetite Mines, the companies say they have “shared interests” in the developing a green iron industry in South Australia, for which the two key inputs are premium-grade magnetite concentrates and abundant renewable energy.

As the release notes, the main green iron processes currently being pursued involve the reduction of very high-grade, low-impurity iron ore (magnetite concentrates) to iron using green hydrogen gas, followed by the conversion of iron into steel using renewables powered electric arc furnace (EAF) – thus taking coal out of the equation.

South Australia, with its world-leading renewable energy supply, is considered to be in a unique position to facilitate this process. And the state government has called for Expression of Interest process to get Australia’s first green iron production facility up and running by 2030 – Magnetite Mines and Zen are participating in the EoI.

The MoU between the two companies sets out a framework for negotiations to supply firmed renewables for Magnetite’s Razorback mine, including through potential energy offtake agreements between Magnetite Mines and Zen assets, leasing agreements, or co-venturing or partnering projects.

The agreement also flags the potential for collaboration on a green iron project at Port Pire, with the potential to address various parts of the supply chain ranging from pellet plant development, to hydrogen plant development and rail, port and logistics development.

Magnetite Mines’ Razorback project, located around 240km northeast of Adelaide, has probable ore reserves of 2 billion tonnes and mineral resources of 3.2 billion tonnes, according to the company’s website.

“Zen’s South Australian renewable energy projects are located near our Razorback Project,” Magnetite Mines chief Tim Dobson said on Thursday.

“Our companies share a common vision for the development of a green iron industry in South Australia, underpinned by Razorback’s magnetite concentrates and ZEN’s renewable energy.”

The Adelaide headquartered Zen, started its journey to supply cheap “basload renewables” to Australian businesses back in late 2017, when it obtained a licence to retail electricity, with a focus on users with demand of more than 160MWh per annum.

The company started out specialising in supply renewable energy to industry sourced from other companies’ solar and wind energy projects, through power purchase agreements, but has more recently turned its hand to developing its own projects.

In May, Zen broke ground on its first big battery development, the 138MW/330MWh Templers BESS near Gawler in South Australia, which it bought from RES Australia in March of 2023.

And in April this year it revealed ambitious plans to develop a 1GW pumped hydro project on New South Wales coal territory that will supply up to eight hours of “firmed” renewable energy.

On green hydrogen, Zen signed an MoU with a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation in May, to explore the idea of collaborating in Australia.

“Zen’s collaboration with Magnetite Mines represents a new load bigger than Olympic Dam to connect to the grid before the end of the decade,” says Zen CEO Anthony Garnaut.

“Zen seeks to play a leadership role in bringing together the needed firmed renewable generations to enable this significant development as well as the corresponding value chain in enabling green iron production in South Australia, particularly around Port Pirie.

“The collaboration … in enabling new value chains to realise green iron production … demonstrates that the Superpower vision for Australia can become a reality, and at a market competitive cost,” Garnaut says.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/zen-inks-de ... ympic-dam/

[PeFe]

Wind project overcomes court case, finally wins government approval.

The upside is that the turbines will be bigger.

From Renew Economy

Contested wind project in South Australia wins federal nod as state heads towards 100 pct net renewables



A heavily contested wind project in South Australia has been given federal environmental approval, more than 10 years after the project was first proposed.

The 288 megawatt (MA) Palmer wind project was first proposed as a 114 turbine facility in 2013, and was quickly reduced to 103 after opposition by local landowners, including then AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan and his friend Stirling McGregor, who was particularly keen to have the proposal knocked down despite not living in the area.

McGregor’s campaign claimed that wind farms cause myriad health problems from cardiac arrhythmia to vivid and distressing nightmares and the project ended up in the Supreme Court of South Australia, where his case against the wind project was rejected in 2019.

The wind farm had already won state planning approval a year earlier.

Last week, the final approval came through from the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) process which found it’s not a controlled action under the Act.



Tilt Renewables now plans to install up to 40 turbines with a maximum tip height of 220m and a capacity of slightly more than 7 MW each. The site is currently used for grazing, and will continue to be.

The final site is right between the towns of Palmer and Tungkillo, about 50km directly east of Adelaide. Plans to spread the wind farm further north and south were abandoned which reduced the project’s footprint by some 500 hectares.

The original proposal made a decade ago was for turbines rated at just 3.3 MW each and with a maximum tip height of 165m. But time and technology has changed.

Tilt Renewables estimates that construction will start in late 2025 and be finished in late 2027-mid 2028, by which time the state government hopes to reach its accelerated target of 100 per cent “net” renewables.

The state’s biggest wind project, the 412 MW Goyder South wind farm, is currently under construction, although completion of the first stage has been delayed to early 2025 rather than late this year as previously hoped. South Australia produced 70 per cent of its electricity needs from wind and solar in the last 12 months.

https://reneweconomy.com.au/contested-w ... enewables/

[Waewick]

Was just about to post this.

We wonder why our power prices are like they are, 10 years! It's not even built yet.

Great to see this one and the larger one Goyder South both under way

[abc]

corruption wins

[Waewick]

https://reneweconomy.com.au/australians ... take-hold/

Sad but true article reflecting on how things stand

[Algernon]

Was just about to post this.

We wonder why our power prices are like they are, 10 years! It's not even built yet.

Great to see this one and the larger one Goyder South both under way

On the bright side, that delay allowed quite a bit of technological advancement which gives the project a longer future than if it had gotten up 10 years ago.over twice the efficiency in only 10 years!

And less than half the turbines to cause that... What was it again? Vivid nightmares. Righto mate, maybe hand over the keys and grab a taxi...

Another huge advantage of wind and solar over nuclear. Delaying the former only causes them to come back leaner and stronger. The latter, costs only pile up and detonate the debt bomb.

[abc]

Was just about to post this.

We wonder why our power prices are like they are, 10 years! It's not even built yet.

Great to see this one and the larger one Goyder South both under way

On the bright side, that delay allowed quite a bit of technological advancement which gives the project a longer future than if it had gotten up 10 years ago.over twice the efficiency in only 10 years!

And less than half the turbines to cause that... What was it again? Vivid nightmares. Righto mate, maybe hand over the keys and grab a taxi...

Another huge advantage of wind and solar over nuclear. Delaying the former only causes them to come back leaner and stronger. The latter, costs only pile up and detonate the debt bomb.

and you know all of this how?

[Waewick]

Was just about to post this.

We wonder why our power prices are like they are, 10 years! It's not even built yet.

Great to see this one and the larger one Goyder South both under way

On the bright side, that delay allowed quite a bit of technological advancement which gives the project a longer future than if it had gotten up 10 years ago.over twice the efficiency in only 10 years!

And less than half the turbines to cause that... What was it again? Vivid nightmares. Righto mate, maybe hand over the keys and grab a taxi...

Another huge advantage of wind and solar over nuclear. Delaying the former only causes them to come back leaner and stronger. The latter, costs only pile up and detonate the debt bomb.

Yeah, the technological advancements in the sector have been amazing.

The sad part is, people who have chosen to remain ignorant on the benefits of renewables aren't going to be impressed or even convinced given they switched off years ago.