The South Australian Government has awarded selection to four solar and wind proposals with a combined capacity of almost 13GW within the Whyalla West release area, located west of the industrial steelmaking city of Whyalla.
Selected bidders include Windlab, Altra Energy SA, Heron Energy and Neoen. Spanning over 3,300 square kilometres across pastoral land on Barngarla country, these projects are designed to satisfy surging new industrial electricity demand in the Upper Spencer Gulf region. Each successful developer now holds the exclusive right to apply for renewable energy feasibility licences, enabling detailed technical, commercial and environmental assessments. All schemes remain subject to further consultation, evaluation and formal approvals.
Windlab’s Whyalla West Project is the largest of the four, with a combined wind and solar capacity of up to 6GW across around 2,386 km². Its first phase will deliver 600MW–1,000MW of wind generation paired with battery energy storage. Altra Energy SA has put forward a 4.7GW hybrid wind-solar development, Heron Energy proposes a standalone 1.6GW wind project, while Neoen’s 350MW solar PV plant is the only solar-only proposal in the tender portfolio, covering approximately 81 km². Breakdowns between wind and solar capacity have not yet been disclosed by Windlab and Altra.
The tender was run under South Australia’s landmark Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023, Australia’s first dedicated legislation for large-scale renewable land release. Technology-neutral bids covering solar, wind, storage and hydrogen were accepted, and submissions closed on 28 June. Results for the second release zone, Gawler Ranges East on the Upper Eyre Peninsula, are yet to be released.
Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia’s Minister for Energy and Mining, noted that Whyalla’s long industrial legacy will be reinforced by the new wave of clean energy investment, bringing industrial opportunities to future generations.
Regional power demand is driving the renewables pipeline. Grid operator ElectraNet projects state electricity demand could hit nearly 50TWh annually by 2040 under a high-growth scenario, tripling current consumption, mainly fuelled by green steel manufacturing, data centre load and green hydrogen production.
South Australia targets 100% net renewable power by the end of 2027. Koutsantonis expressed confidence the state can reach the milestone, while acknowledging the four Whyalla West developments are still at an early development stage.
