The South Australian Produce Market will install 1600 solar panels and a large lithium-ion battery on its facility at Pooraka, saving stallholders over half a million dollars a year off their power bills.
The $10.5 million microgrid, which will be constructed with the help of a $2.5 million State Government Energy Productivity Program grant, is understood to be the largest private solar PV system in South Australia.
The system will supply all of the wholesale market’s energy needs and will also feed surplus power into the broader grid, relieving peak demand and putting downward pressure on power prices for all South Australians.
The microgrid will comprise of a 4.2MWh lithium-ion battery, 2.5MW solar PV system and 2.5MW on-site generator and at full capacity will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 4,500 homes.
The project will cut greenhouse gas emissions from the site by 2,637 tonnes each year and it is anticipated market stallholders will save up to $5.5 million over the next 10 years compared to the current Retail offers available in SA.
Minister for Energy, Tom Koutsantonis, said, “Pairing solar panels with batteries not only reduces power costs for businesses, it also reduces demand on the grid, putting downward pressure on power prices for all South Australians.
“South Australia is at the forefront of advances in the deployment of this technology and projects like this one at the SA Produce Market demonstrate how much can be saved by investing in solar and batteries.”
The control system for the site is being developed by local South Australian company AZZO.
The microgrid will be fully operational by late 2018.
