Distributed Solar and BESS

Solar Energy Facility
Written By Justin Parker

Mark Yates (YES Group) left, with Justin Parker (SEI) right.

Project Status: In progress - 7 of 13* sites completed (*as of September 2023)

SEI AND YES GROUP TO DEVELOP A PORTFOLIO OF SOLAR FARM PROJECTS.

In 2021, Sustainable Energy Infrastructure (SEI) and Yates Electrical Services Group (YES Group) entered a long-term agreement to develop, own, operate, maintain and manage a portfolio of solar farms across regional Australia.

To date, the agreement between SEI and YES Group has encompassed the development of thirteen (56.5MW) mid-scale solar farms across regional South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

Since then seven of the thirteen sites have been completed: with the first two in Renmark and Bowmans (SA) finalised in September 2021 and sites in Port Wakefield, Padthaway and Woods Point (SA) completed in November 2022. It is expected that Mulwala and Armidale (NSW) projects will be completed by September 2023.

Solar Site Locations

Environmental Benefits

Renewable Generation

These thirteen sites will offer a combined capacity of approximately 56.5MW AC, producing an annual generation volume of 136,698MWh. This will be fed into the grid across the country and power over 6,500 homes.

Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)

Four of thirteen solar farms will be enhanced by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), offering a combined capacity volume of 17.925MWh. This will allow a more dynamic response, ensuring electricity is dispatched to the market when it’s needed most. By using BESS, we are able to divert energy during peak generation times, adding to the stability of the national energy market and its ability to react quickly when demand changes.

Quick Response Time

The nature of solar and battery storage ensures a quick response to the national grid demands, meaning our team can switch the energy on and off within two seconds, depending on where it’s needed the most. This steadies the burden of activating less responsive generators of electricity and ensures smooth use of renewable sources for homes and businesses across the country.

  • Location: Renmark
    Capacity: 4.2MW
    Total Panels: 9,792
    Commissioned: September 2021

    The Renmark solar farm was the first project completed in the agreement with SEI and YES Group. Making use of bare land unused by traditional farming purposes, we completed construction in August and commissioned the site in September 2021.

  • Location: Bowmans
    Capacity: 1.9MW
    Total Panels: 4,400
    Commissioned: September 2021

    Located 15 minutes from Port Wakefield, Bowmans is home to the second of our thirteen sites across the country. The small country town is now home to multiple solar farms, thanks to its location and optimal sunlight conditions throughout the year.

    Approximately half the size of our Renmark site, Bowmans solar farm features a similar layout, design and uses the same innovative solar tracking system, which maximises generation while minimising the energy required to rotate the panels as they move from East to West each day.

  • Location: Port Wakefield
    Capacity: 3.675MW
    BESS Capacity: 2.5MWh
    Total Panels: 8,568
    Commissioned: November 2022

    Approximately double the size of our Bowmans solar farm, our Port Wakefield site boasts 8,568 solar panels and a Battery Energy Storage System, which supplies an additional 2.5MWh capacity to the grid. This allows us to divert energy during peak generation times to where it’s needed the most.

  • Location: Padthaway
    Capacity: 3.675MW
    BESS Capacity: 2.5MWh
    Total Panels: 8,568
    Commissioned: November 2022

    In the heart of the state’s south east region, you’ll find our Padthaway solar farm. Despite its more remote location, the site is roughly the same size and capacity as our Port Wakefield solar farm. Producing a volume of 3.675MW AC, the power generated here feeds straight into the distribution network, powering many homes and business operations.

  • Location: Woods Point
    Capacity: 3.675MW
    BESS Capacity: 2.5MWh
    Total Panels: 8,568
    Commissioned: November 2022

    Our Woods Point solar farm, located near Murray Bridge, was the first combined PV / BESS facility in our portfolio with YES Group to export into the national network. Comprised of 8,568 bi-facial Risen solar panels on a Nextracker framing system and a 2.5MWh battery storage system, this project is identical to the Port Wakefield and Padthaway sites.

  • Location: Mulwala
    Capacity: 4.99MW
    Total Panels: 11,808
    Commissioned: September 2023

    The first interstate solar farm in our partnership with YES Group, our Mulwala site is the biggest solar farm in our portfolio to date. Featuring 11,808 panels and a PV capacity of 4.99MW, the facility began feeding energy into the network in late 2023, once commissioning was completed in August.

  • Location: Armidale
    Capacity: 4.99MW
    Total Panels: 11,808
    Commissioned: September 2023

    A sister site, identical to the solar farm in Mulwala, the Armidale site brings our total portfolio capacity to 27MW. Located amongst the picturesque vineyards surrounding the township, this site has reactivated redundant and unused land to create a distributed network of renewable energy. Closer to the source of energy consumption, this mid-scale solar farm ensures that the local community can benefit from and use the clean energy generated.

  • At present, there are a further six sites in various stages of construction:

    • 5MW PV Facility in Nyngan, NSW

    • 5MW PV Facility in Werris Creek, NSW

    • 5MW (10MWh) BESS Facility in Direk, SA

    • 5MW PV Facility in Kadina, SA

    • 5MW PV Facility in Barnawartha, VIC

    • 5MW PV Facility in Monarto, SA

    These facilities are expected to reach completion at varying stages throughout the end of 2023 / first half of 2024.

Justin Parker
Next

CNG Facilities