The South Australian Government has announced four new proposals will receive support through the $150 million Renewable Technology Fund.
The projects, which range from batteries and hydrogen fuel cells to thermal storage using sewage, demonstrate the diverse technologies that are available to help South Australia capitalise on its position as a global leader in the production of renewable energy.
Premier, Jay Weatherill, said the $150 million Renewable Technology Fund is putting South Australia at the cutting edge of renewable energy technologies.
“The incredible response to the Renewable Technology Fund and the diverse range of technologies represented in this round of funding shows how much potential exists in this industry of the future,” Mr Weatherill said.
“The Renewable Technology Fund will not only help deliver clean, reliable and affordable power, it will also create new energy and renewables jobs in South Australia and make our businesses more competitive.”
Minister for Energy, Tom Koutsantonis, said major international businesses like Tesla and SolarReserve invest in South Australia because it has world-class renewable energy resources.
Planet Ark Power – Schneider Electric
A $1.95 million grant towards a $13.9 million solar PV and battery project at a major distribution centre in Adelaide’s North. The project includes a microgrid management system optimising 5.7MW of solar PV coupled with 2.9MWh of battery storage and integrates with SA Power Networks’ Utility Distribution Management System.
Planet Ark Power General Manager, Jonathan Ruddick, said the company is proud to be partnering with both the South Australian Government and Schneider Electric on this initiative.
“This microgrid project allows the demonstration of the technology that will power our future energy supply both locally and globally. The microgrid allows the full potential of renewable energy to be harnessed by dealing with the intermittent nature of solar. This project is an example of South Australian leadership in building a stable and affordable energy future,” Mr Ruddick said.
UniSA
A $3.6 million grant towards a $7.7 million project at the Mawson Lakes campus that includes hydrogen production and a 50kW hydrogen fuel cell, a 0.45MWh flow battery, 3.2 million litres of chilled water storage, and 1.8MW of ground and roof mounted solar PV. The project will cut campus emissions by 35 per cent and reduce peak demand on the grid.
UniSA Pro Vice Chancellor Simon Beecham said the investment will create a national testing facility for renewable technologies at the Mawson Lakes Campus while at the same time cutting its emissions by more than a third.
1414 Degrees
A $1.6 million grant towards a $3.2 million thermal storage project at the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant using a home grown technology being commercialised by 1414 Degrees. The project will include a 0.25MW/10MWh thermal energy storage device that holds heat generated from the combustion of biogas produced on site.
1414 Degrees Executive Chairman, Kevin Moriarty, said 1414 Degrees has developed groundbreaking technology that integrates energy generation from waste with storage, and will develop its pilot installation at the SA Water Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“SA Water currently generates electricity to power its operations from the biogas as it is produced by wastewater treatment processing. The 1414 Degrees technology will instead burn the biogas and store the thermal energy, so the heat and electricity can be harnessed to better coincide with SA Water’s operational needs and times of high electricity market prices,” Mr Moriarty said.
SunSHIFT
A $1 million grant towards a $2.69 million modular and relocatable solar PV and battery storage project at the Heathgate Resources Beverley mine. The project will pair one megawatt of solar PV with a 1MW/0.5MWh battery, and integrate with the existing on-site gas power plant.
SunSHIFT General Manager, Will Rayward-Smith, said short-term users of energy, such as mines, have historically been locked out of energy storage and solar power, as traditional technologies are permanent and require long-term contracts.
“Our modular energy storage and solar power plants can easily be moved from one user to the next, meaning we only require short-term contracts.
“With the support of the South Australian Government, we will be deploying a SunSHIFT power plant at Beverley mine, with the vision of creating a significant fleet of Australian-owned assets and Australian jobs.”
