The hybrid wind-solar plant of Port Augusta – which was given the green light in 2019 – was completed in 2022 and combines wind and solar photovoltaic power generation, reaching a total installed capacity of 317 MW. The project consists of the installation of 50 wind turbines with unit capacity of 4.2 MW in a wind farm of 210 MW and a solar photovoltaic plant with 250,000 solar panels with an installed capacity of 107 MW. This installation makes it possible to take advantage of the high solar radiation generated in Port Augusta and the usual strong wind resource during the day (winds in this area are strongest in the afternoon hours).
The Iberdrola Group began commissioning Port Augusta, its first hybrid wind-solar project in the world, in October 2022, after the facility was registered on the National Electricity Market by the Australian Energy Market Operator. With an investment of A$500 million, the project created 200 jobs during construction and involved a number of local and global suppliers. Spain’s Elecnor, for example, was responsible for building the plant’s substation, transmission line, storage areas and access roads.
The power generated is exported to the Davenport substation, approximately four kilometres from this new project, via a 275 KV connection.