Works begin on Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm project in SA

Early works are now underway on the Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm as part of Neoen’s massive flagship Goyder Renewables Zone in South Australia. 

Works are being undertaken by a consortium between GE Renewable Energy and Elecnor, which was given the Notice to Proceed in late December 2021. 

The first stage of the project will have a capacity of 412MW and will comprise of 75 GE 5.5-158 Cypress turbines. The power station that is going to be built as part of this renewable energy project will be connected to ElectraNet’s Robertstown substation through a new transmission line. 

Major construction is due to begin in the second quarter of 2022 and the wind farm is anticipated to be operational in 2024. 

“We are thrilled to break ground at Goyder, which is the most ambitious project in Neoen’s portfolio. I would like to congratulate our team for their hard work, audacity and commitment. Goyder perfectly illustrates Neoen’s approach; the creation of highly competitive large-scale renewable energy product offerings, which will deliver value for multiple customers. Boosted by now having 5.4 GW of assets in operation or under construction, we are more confident than ever in our ability to achieve our target of 10 GW in 2025,” Neoen Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Xavier Barbaro said. 

A significant volume of the energy from the wind farm is going to be sold to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) through a 14-year power purchase agreement, which is for 100MW of wind-generated energy. This is the fourth contract for renewable energy in ACT awarded to Neoen. 

On top of the power purchase agreement, Neoen will also deliver a large-scale battery outside of the Goyder Renewables Zone as part of its contract with the ACT. Works on the 100MW Capital Battery began in December 2021. 

“Canberra prides itself as a leader on climate action, with our 100% renewable electricity powered economy creating a healthier and more sustainable future. Our work with renewable energy generators, like Neoen, has been critical to achieving Canberra’s renewable electricity target. The ACT’s contract with the Goyder wind farm means that Canberra’s electricity supply will continue to be sourced from 100% renewable electricity in the coming years. This will allow us to accommodate a growing population, support renewable energy initiatives such as electric vehicles and transition our economy off fossil gas,” ACT Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said. 

Project map (source: Goyder Renewables Zone)

The Goyder South Stage 1 wind farm project is part of the Goyder Renewables Zone – a hybrid renewable energy development that combines wind, solar and battery storage – located near Burra in the Mid North region. 

The project was granted development approval for the delivery of a total of 1,200MW of wind power, 600MW of solar energy and 900MW of battery storage capacity, making Goyder South the State’s largest renewable energy project to date. 

“We are delighted to start building the first stage of our Goyder Renewables Zone, Neoen’s most competitive giga-project. We look forward to building on this strong foundation, adding solar and batteries into the future to deliver firm 24/7 renewable energy. We would like to thank the South Australian and ACT Governments for their continued support and renewed trust. With this world class project, we are privileged to be supporting South Australia’s ambition to be a renewable energy exporter and continuing to the ACT’s target of net zero emissions by 2045,” Neoen Australia Managing Director Louis de Sambucy said. 

Future stages will be unfolded along with the progression of Project EnergyConnect, an 800MW transmission line development that will link South Australia with New South Wales. 

In addition to leveraging the “exceptional wind and solar resources” of the project location, the development of Goyder Renewable Zone will also deliver a significant boost to the local economy. 

The first stage of Goyder South is anticipated to create more than 400 jobs during its construction and another 12 full-time jobs once operational. 

“I congratulate Neoen on this key milestone for the Goyder South Project, which is an important moment in South Australia’s clean energy transition. This project is possible because of the Project EnergyConnect interconnector with New South Wales, a transformational project that will secure the South Australian grid and allow us to export our abundant renewable energy. They Goyder South Project highlights South Australia’s world class renewable energy capacity, helping to deliver cheaper, cleaner electricity and hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars in investment in the state,” SA Minister for Energy and Mining Dan Van Holst Pellekaan said. 

Neoen is also committed to sharing benefits to regional communities through an annual Community Benefit Fund to deliver local community-building and sustainability initiatives along with a comprehensive neighbour benefit scheme and benefit-sharing with the Ngadjuri – Traditional Owners of the land where the project is being built. 

The project will also incorporate an eco-tourism initiative that ensures the iconic Worlds End Gorge is secured “for the enjoyment of future generations”. 

Source: Renew Economy; PV Magazine Australia; Neoen – Media Release; ICN Gateway; Goyder Renewables Zone