19 March 2024
South Australia today took a significant step closer to being powered by 100 per cent renewable energy with construction of the state’s second largest battery commencing 60 km north of Adelaide at Templers.
The South Australian Government announced the Templers battery alongside local business success story ZEN Energy, which will build, own and operate the 291 MW/h project. Local employment will be a priority for ZEN during construction, with more than 180 jobs being created.
The Templers battery will add significant storage and stability to the electricity grid as South Australia builds toward becoming a renewable energy superpower nationally and overseas through its investments in green manufacturing.
ZEN has quickly grown to be a leading national renewable energy retailer, supplying clean power to the South Australian Government, Bunnings. CSIRO, as well as a network of councils in the eastern states.
Other key facts
- ZEN’s ability to construct the battery has been enabled through the South Australian Government’s commitment to a long-term energy contract with ZEN.
- ZEN has brought together an extensive ecosystem of sustainability driven partners with a focus on investing in South Australia.
- Stonepeak, a leading global infrastructure and asset investment firm, is supporting the financing of Templers as its first foray into financing renewable infrastructure in Australia.
- Construction of the Templers battery is also a key project in South Australia for ZEN’s EPC partners, CPP and Sungrow.
- South Australia’s ElectraNet announced in September last year that they would build, own, operate and maintain the dedicated connection to the battery, which has enabled the project to meet key deadlines.
Quotes Attributable to Anthony Garnaut, CEO of ZEN Energy
Templers is a key milestone in ZEN’s significant growth and marks our first substantial asset, in the state where we started.
The South Australian Government, through committing to a long-term contract with a renewable retailer has enabled this significant investment in further stabilising the supply of renewable, affordable energy into South Australia.
Stonepeak’s commitment to ZEN will enable us to continue to bring more renewable assets to the grid in South Australia.
Through enabling an eco-system of renewable energy suppliers, the South Australian Government continues to shore up investment growth into the state.
About ZEN Energy
A 1.5°C world for everyone. ZEN is Australia’s only electricity retailer to have a science-based emissions reduction plan in line with limiting global heating by 1.5°C this decade. We form long-term and sustainable partnerships, delivering our plan in a way that is sensitive to the needs of Australia’s First Peoples of nature, and of local communities. Our key customers include the South Australian Government, CSIRO’s sites in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, Bunnings in Victoria, and South Australia and ISPT in Queensland. ZEN provides renewable energy to the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), which comprises 25 local councils in New South Wales representing nearly 40 per cent of the state’s population. Our total customer volume is over 1TWh, supplied from our growing portfolio of renewable assets located across Australia.
As a renewable energy developer, ZEN is working on two key projects - the Templers Battery Project, and the Solar River Battery and Solar Project. ZEN is progressing other renewable energy and battery storage projects located across the National Energy Market (NEM).
Contact for further information about ZEN Energy: Glynn Jones at gjones@zenenergy.com.au or phone +61416478351
