The State Government of South Australia has cleared the way for the construction of 280 MW Cultana Solar Farm the state's largest solar farm with 100 MW Playford Battery Storage after it signed a 10-year power supply contract with Zen Energy, a step it believes helps power its COVID recovery, create 800 construction jobs and bring in cleaner and cheaper electricity to the region.
Zen Energy will bring up the 280 MW Cultana Solar Farm in Whyalla as the 1st project of a 1 GW dispatchable renewable energy program of UK based billionaire Sanjeev Gupta's Australia plans. The majority stake in Zen Energy is owned by Gupta's GFG Alliance (see Zen Energy Plans 1 GW RES In Australia).
The project is expected to cost an investment of AUD 660 million and save AUD 10.00 on an average on their electricity bills. "This new contract will allow ZEN Energy to grow its business customer base, enter the residential retail market and improve both the security and reliability of the grid with the state's 5th grid scale battery," said state Minister for Energy and Mining, Dan van Holst Pellekaan.
Zen Energy secured the deal with the state government after clearing a competitive process to supply power to the state government through to 2030. The agreement came into effect on November 1, 2020.
It will generate around 600 GWh annually post completion with the help of 780,000 solar panels to be deployed. Electricity of the grid-connect plant will supplied to GFG's own Whyalla Primary Steel Plant.
The Playford Battery will have a nominal capacity of 100 MW/100 MWh and can provide a peak response of 135 MW during peak demand.
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