REGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOYDER
RENEWABLES ENERGY PROJECTS UPDATE REPORT
31 July 2026
1 NEOEN – GOYDER RENEWABLES ZONE
Goyder South – Stage 1,2 & 3 – South of Burra & North of Robertstown near World’s End & Bright.
Neoen are the Developers & Operators of the project. In April 2025, they completed Goyder South Stage 1A & 1B for the construction of 75 wind turbines in the hills between Burra & Robertstown and Koonoona Road which produces 412MWM of wind power. At its peak over the construction period, the project had approximately 250 workers which used all local accommodation in the Goyder & Clare regions as well as many construction, hospitality, food and other business services throughout the region.
Goyder South – Stage 2 & 3 has not commenced yet and has received development approval for up to 600 MW of wind generation and 600 MW of solar generation capacity making Goyder South the state’s largest renewable project.
Goyder North is in final planning stages & is comprised of up to 99 wind turbines producing 1000MW of wind power & up to 900MW/3600MWh of battery storage. Neoen has recently received approval under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act for the Goyder North Wind Farm. This follows a separate approval of the application to the Native Vegetation Council late last year, marking two major milestones in the last 6 months. Construction is expected to commence in early 2027.
Aberdeen Workers Accommodation – a temporary camp with long term community benefits. The Regional Council of Goyder, with Neoen Australia, is exploring a proposal for temporary workers accommodation at the former Aberdeen Football Oval on the outskirts of Burra. The site would include essential services such as roads, water and storm water systems. Importantly, the infrastructure is planned to support future caravan & RV parking in line with long term community plans. The proposal is currently in the approvals process under the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023.
Goyder Battery – at Bundey Substation eat of Robertstown. Following the finalisation of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract in December 2025, Goyder Battery Stage 1 has been ramping up for site mobilisation, currently scheduled for August 2026. The project is being delivered in partnership with UGL and Tesla. Tesla will supply and commission the Megapack 3 battery units, while UGL will deliver the supporting infrastructure, including civil works, underground electrical systems and the project substation and transmission connection.
Neoen are still encouraging people to put forward accommodation options if they have properties to rent, particularly in the Bundey/Robertstown/Eudunda districts, and also surrounding Burra.
This can be done by visiting the website www.goyderenergy.com.au or calling 1800 966 166.
Locals can also register their interest in employment by going to the website and click on Work With Us.
The Community Benefits Fund Program, which was launched in April 2025 will provide significant, meaningful benefits to communities around the Goyder Renewables Zone with a commitment of funding of $100000 per annum. The second round of grant applications closed on 30 June 2026.
2 ELECTRANET PROJECT ENERGY CONNECT – INTERCONNECTOR
The 900-kilometre Energy Connect interconnector between Robertstown SA & Wagga Wagga in NSW is energised with construction complete. Physical assets are live and undergoing final commissioning, while full commercial market integration and inter-network testing by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) continues through late 2026.
The complete 800MW transfer capacity across the entire interconnector is expected to be fully available to the National Electricity Market by late 2027 following earlier staged releases of lower capacity.
3 REVERA ENERGY – ROBERTSTOWN SOLAR
Near Robertstown Power Substation, 5kms North-East of Robertstown.
The following information was provided by Ryon Halversen, Development Manager of Revera Energy on 29 July 2026.
The project is located near the ElectraNet Robertstown Substation, 5kms north-east of Robertstown, in
the localities of Bright and Geranium Plains.
The proposed project with up to 500 MW / 2,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and up to 500 MW (AC) utility scale solar farm, to be developed on approximately 1,800 hectares of agricultural land. The project will feed into the National Energy Market via a 275kv connection to ElectraNet’s Robertstown substation and support the SA–NSW Interconnector.
A further 300 MW (AC) solar farm has been approved at Robertstown East.
In early 2026, the Robertstown BESS was referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act, with the referral determined as a Not a Controlled Action. Recently, the BESS project
received a Native Vegetation Council Decision Notification, approving less than 1 ha of clearance
activities.
Revera is also progressing the transition of the Development Approval to a Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act Associated Infrastructure Licence (AIL) for the BESS, and a Renewable Energy
Infrastructure Licence (REIL) for the solar PV.
Stage 1 of the BESS supply tender process is underway, as is the Balance of Plant tender process. The
Transmission Connection Agreement is under negotiation with ElectraNet, engagement with project
stakeholders continues and Financial Close is expected for late 2026.
4 ZEN ENERGY – SOLAR RIVER PROJECT
Near Florieton between Burra & Morgan.
The project includes a 210MW photovoltaic array comprising 400000 solar panels and a 256MW 2.5hour (650MWh) battery at a capital cost of over $540 million. Zen Energy and Taiwan-listed HDRE were working together to co-develop and manage the giga-scale solar and storage pipeline through a joint venture dubbed ZEBRE.
On 4 July 2026, the Advertiser reported that Zen Energy had gone into administration after a months-long restructuring failed to secure a future for the energy retailer. The administrators reported that the company had successfully completed the sale of the company’s infrastructure asset business’s which includes the Solar River project at Florieton. It is not known at this stage who purchased the Solar River assets.
5 GREEN GOLD ENERGY – AUSTRALIA PLAINS SOLAR FARM & BESS
Approx 16 kms North-East of Eudunda.
And
MORGAN SOLAR FARM & BESS
near Morgan
Green Gold Energy plan to build a 200MW solar farm & 200MW BESS (Battery Energy Storage System at Mickan Road, Australia Plains. As provided by Elton Zhang, the Project Development Manager.
The Development Application has been approved after attending to various issues raised by the community. They are awaiting connection approval to the grid which should be completed by the end of 2025 and then construction is planned to commence at the end of 2026 or early 2027. As now reported, the Australia Plains project is currently on hold.
They are also planning a 108MW solar farm & 91 MW BESS on the Goyder Highway near Morgan (Stuart region) & Development Application approval & the Connection Agreement Process has been completed. The project is expected to draw in an investment value of $185 million & will create employment opportunities of 200 construction jobs over the 18-month construction period. Construction is expected to commence at the end of 2026 or early 2027.
6 RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS (RES) – TWIN CREEK WIND FARM
Between Eudunda, Kapunda and Truro.
The original project has been revised to take advantage of the substantial evolution in wind turbine technology and RES has optimized the Project layout.
The optimised project is expected to involve the construction and operation of up to 42 wind turbine generators with a generation capacity of up to 7.2 MW (nominal) and a total name-plate capacity of up to 270MW and battery energy storage facility of 215MW indicative capacity. This will see a significant uplift in its capacity for clean energy generation whilst reducing the number of turbines to be installed.
Information about the Project is available on their recently updated website
https://www.twincreek-windfarm.com/
This revised development application was placed on public notification between 5 March and 4 April 2025 and various representations from the public and agency referral responses were received. RES Australia has not yet formally responded to the submissions received as it seeks to separately resolve native vegetation clearance issues. As a result, the development application currently remains on hold with various statutory steps still to be completed.
After various current attempts to contact the Community Engagement staff of RES Australia, no responses were received. The current website is not able to be accessed and appears to have been taken down.
7 WIND PROSPECT – WHYTE YARCOWIE WIND FARM
Near Whyte Yarcowie, Hallet & Terowie.
Wind Prospect is undertaking planning for the development of a wind farm near Whyte Yarcowie with up to 83 wind turbines (now reduced to 43 wind turbines). The proposed site is around 3 km east of the Whyte Yarcowie township, 8.5 km north of Hallett and 6 km south of Terowie.
The following update report was provided in the newsletter on the website on 1 July 2026:
Renewable Energy Infrastructure Licence (REIL).
“Following the public exhibition of our REIL application in April-June 2025, we received submissions from community members and government agencies. We’ve reviewed this feedback carefully and have carried out additional environmental surveys to address the issues raised and completed a comprehensive design review and update. This has taken some time, but as a result the updated project design reduces impacts on protected grasslands, the Pygmy Blue-tongued Lizard, and other environmental values. This new project design has moved access tracks into less impactful locations, and we have reduced the overall scale of the wind farm from up-to-83 wind turbines to now be up-to-47 wind turbines.
We will soon be submitting our formal responses to public submissions made on the REIL application last year to inform the Minister’s decision-making process in late 2026.
We have also undertaken feasibility assessment for a BESS as part of the broader Whyte Yarcowie Wind Farm project. Feasibility studies confirm a large-scale battery can be integrated at a site near the Belalie substation.
For more information about the Whyte Yarcowie Wind Farm please go to the website whyteyarcowiewindfarm.com.au, call our information line on 1800 595 197, or email us on
info@whyteyarcowiewindfarm.com.au
A reminder that the project sponsorship fund is open and accepting applications. Please get in contact if you have a community group, project or event that could use some support.
For further information, please go to the project website https://whyteyarcowiewindfarm.com.au/
8 GENASPI ENERGY – BUNDEY SOLAR & BESS
Near Robertstown & Bundey.
Genaspi Energy is proposing to develop a Solar Farm & Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Bundey, around 12 kms north-east of Robertstown.
The site, situated on freehold land owned by Genaspi was specifically chosen for its significant distance from residential properties and proximity to the 330/275kV Bunday Substation and associated 330kV transmission line.
Once operational, the BESS will have a total capacity of 808MW/3232MWh. An accompanying solar farm will have the capacity to charge 80% of the battery’s capacity.
In October 2025, the solar component of the project received Development Approval from the SA Government. The Connections Model & Agreement for Stage 1 is scheduled to be lodged in August 2026 with Financial Close expected in the first quarter 2027. Construction is targeted to commence after Quarter 1 in 2027.
9 ENGIE – WILLOGOLECHE 2 WIND FARM
Near Hallett
ENGIE is developing a new wind farm project which is located approximately 5km from Hallett.
The proposed wind farm is situated adjacent to ENGIE’s operational Willogoleche Wind Farm, which was commissioned in 2019 and has a capacity of 119MW.
The new wind farm will comprise approximately 20 wind turbines and supporting ancillary corridor and have a capacity of 110MW. A transmission corridor is needed, with supporting power lines to connect to the existing Willogoleche Substation located 4kms south.
ENGIE is currently conducting detailed studies and assessments and consulting with the community and other key stakeholders as part of developing the Willogoleche 2 Wind Farm. A final investment decision is expected in late 2026 with construction underway in 2027/28.
Since 2025, annual Willogoleche 2 Wind Farm Community Grants of up to $30000 have been offered while development is underway, with the latest round offered in Autumn 2026.
10 ENERGYAUSTRALIA – HALLETT BESS
Near Hallett
Energy Australia plans to develop a grid-scale battery to be located alongside its Hallett Power Station, in Conowie, near Hallett.
The Hallett Battery Energy Storage System would have a initial storage capacity of 50MW and discharge capacity of up to 200MWh and be able to power up to 81000 homes and small businesses for up to 4 hours.
There are plans to triple its capacity to 159MW in a future second stage.
Developing the battery on EnergyAustralia land, alongside the gas fired power station, means the project will use the existing transmission infrastructure and connection to the grid. This substantially minimises the projects impact on the surrounding environment. It is anticipated that the battery will be ready for commercial operations in 2027.
11 SHIFT ENERGY – PLAINS BESS PROJECT
Rocky Plains area 6kms south-east of Robertstown.
The Plains BESS project is a large-scale battery energy storage system development and is proposed to occur in 4 stages, with a total combined capacity sufficient to support up to 300000 homes.
• Stage 1: 250 MW/2000MWh equivalent to supplying approximately 75000 home for 8 hours
• Stage 2-4: 3 x 250MW/1000MWh – equivalent to supplying approximately 225000 homes for 8 hours
The project will also include a substation to connect the battery to the existing electricity network – no new transmission lines are required.
The public were invited to make submissions to the Draft Environmental Impact Report and the Draft Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) document by 15 April 2026, and these submissions are now being considered.
The Department of Mines & Energy will be assessing the applications and documentation and if approved, the SEO becomes part of the licence conditions the project must follow during construction, operation and decommissioning.
12 SA WATER – MORGAN WHYALLA PIPELINE RENEWAL
SA Water announced on 10 January 2022, that they are planning to replace sections of the Morgan Whyalla pipeline. The pipeline is a 358 kilometre long, above ground pipeline that was constructed in the 1940’s for the transfer of bulk water supplies to the Iron Triangle cities of Port Pirie, Port Augusta and Whyalla and supply to the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula water distribution networks.
SA Water, together with contractors, McConnell Dowell SRG Global Joint Venture are planning to replace up to 34 kilometres of the pipeline and most of this replacement will be occurring on the section between Morgan and Burra. The following report has been provided by Denni Russell – Senior Community and Stakeholder Advisor – McConnell Dowell SRG Global Joint Venture on 20 July 2026.
“Building More Than a Pipeline: Progress and Local Partnerships
The commencement of the project was delayed due to the resubmission of additional environmental requirements with the Federal Government. This work has now been completed & construction was expected to commence in the 1st quarter of 2025; however, this has not eventuated. At the date of this report, no update on the progress of the project has been able to be obtained.
12 OTHER NEW RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
Other Renewable Energy projects that are planning to commence in the Goyder region are: Bundey Data Centre (at Bundey), Synco Global Lindley BESS Project (near Morgan) & the Razorback Iron Ore Project (high voltage transmission link from Bundey, near Robertstown to the location of the iron ore project near Yunta)
LOCAL ADVANTAGES & BENEFITS
The Regional Council of Goyder councilors & staff, the Burra Community Association, Eudunda Community Business & Tourism Committee (ECBaT) & the Robertstown & District Community & Management Committee are ensuring that the maximum possible impact & interaction is gained from these projects in the local communities in the Goyder Region from Burra to Eudunda by connecting the contractors of each project to the local labour force, accommodation & food providers & other businesses. This is being done as a community service project with Mel Zerner, a former local Eudunda resident, voluntarily assisting Goyder Council & the other community groups in this initiative.
Mel is in regular contact with the key owners or employees of all the above projects to obtain status reports and then respond to their local requirements as needed.
If you have any questions on the status of the any of the above projects or local requirements or want to include your accommodation, labour or local business services on the registers, please contact Mel on Mobile 0418 852 353.