Will the Aurora Project be Located in Port Augusta?

• Aurora Solar Project has been sold to a new owner. However, there is no guarantee that the project will still be located in Port Augusta.

The $750 million worth Aurora solar has been sold to 1414 Degrees Energy Company. The sale was executed on the 12th December 2019. But the buyout gave the Aurora Solar project a new lease of life. The project was unveiled in 2017 and would include a 150MW plant. It would make Port Augusta light again after the Northern Power Station was shut in 2016.

According to Kevin Moriarty the chairman of 1414 degrees, the game plan will change a little bit. The new plans will include installing up to 400 megawatts of power 

According to Mr. Moriarty, the site that Solar Reserve was developing is ideal and that his company was ready to implement the project.  He said that the company does not need an upfront capital but it was prepared to spend the same amount of money on what Solar Reserve had planned to invest in developing energy storage and a solar farm. 

Already, there is approval to develop70MW of solar PV but Nr. Moriarty said that already, the feasibility studies were underway and they will vary the installation to 400 MW and later develop the storage plant.  He also said that conversations were underway between, the 1414 degrees, the Port Augusta Council and the state government. However, he said that there was no guarantee of having the project based in Port Augusta.

Other areas such as Davenport have been proposed for the location of the project. He added that it is likely that the storage would be located in Davenport since the meter will be based there.  Even though, Mr. Moriaty said that the finer details were still being worked on and the first stage will be commenced by the end of next year. He said that he was convinced that the project would impact on Port Augusta and would bring jobs in the area.