New power deal: big solar farm, big battery, jobs and savings

The Marshall Government has signed a new energy supply contract that will help power our COVID recovery, create 800 construction jobs and make electricity cleaner, cheaper, and more secure in a decade-long deal with South Australian company ZEN Energy.

The contract has also secured construction of South Australia’s largest solar farm and the state’s 5^th grid scale battery.

“We’re committed to building what matters, using our budget to drive jobs and growth to recover from COVID-19,” said Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan.

“We’re thrilled that 810 new jobs will be created to build the Cultana Solar Farm and Playford Battery which will power the South Australian government.”

ZEN Energy won the new contract after a rigorous process, to supply power to the State Government through to 2030.

The 10-year agreement commences on the 1^st of November and will result in around $12.8 million in savings for taxpayers compared to the previous power arrangements.

“The Marshall Government has used its significant purchasing power to secure the construction of a 280 MW solar farm at Cultana near Whyalla and 100 MW battery near Port Augusta – both to be delivered in partnership with SIMEC Energy Australia.”

“This is a great outcome for taxpayers, for jobs, for power prices and for grid security.

“The Marshall Government’s energy policies are making these long-proposed projects a reality.

“It’s a big solar farm and a big battery, with big savings for taxpayers, creating a big jobs number.”

“The $660 million investment to deliver these two projects includes the creation of up to 810 new jobs at the peak of the construction phase and around $40 million in local goods and services.

“These projects will be a coup for the communities of the Upper Spencer Gulf.

“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 5^th grid scale battery.

“Once operational, these new assets will have a positive impact on competition in South Australia and deliver emissions reductions and price reductions, saving SA households $10 on average on their electricity bills, on top of the $158 average reduction in our first two years in Government.

“The old Labor Government lumbered the taxpayer with expensive and unreliable power system propped up by extremely expensive dirty diesel generators.”