en.Wedoany.com Reported - AGL Energy, an Australian energy generation and retail giant, has recently commissioned a microgrid at the almond orchard of Koompartu Farms in South Australia. Combining solar power generation with battery storage, the microgrid is specifically designed to support agricultural electricity needs.

The microgrid features a 9.2 MW single-axis tracking solar photovoltaic array, consisting of over 15,600 solar panels, and is equipped with a 10.2 MWh battery energy storage system composed of four 2.55 MWh units. Additionally, the project includes 16 diesel backup generators and 19 kilometers of high-voltage underground lines to distribute power across the 9,340-hectare farm.

The facility is located at Koompartu Farms near Monash in the Riverland region of South Australia, covering an area of 15 hectares. Owned by U.S. fund management company RRG Capital Management, the farm is the largest almond orchard in South Australia, with over 2,500 hectares under cultivation.

AGL describes this microgrid as "one of Australia's largest private, non-mining microgrids." It is expected to generate approximately 85% of the farm's 6.7 MW electricity demand while reducing diesel reliance by about 88%.

Brendan Weinart, General Manager of Sustainable Business Energy Solutions at AGL, stated that the project demonstrates how customized microgrid solutions can meet the energy reliability needs of large agricultural enterprises. He noted that this is the first project of its kind, aimed at increasing local grid capacity and ensuring reliability for the continuous operation of critical irrigation systems. With diesel generator usage expected to decrease by 88%, the project showcases the role of tailored microgrid solutions in helping businesses reduce emissions and enhance resilience.

AGL stated that the project operates under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model, with AGL responsible for constructing, owning, operating, and maintaining the assets and supplying power to Koompartu Farms. This allows the orchard management team to focus on agricultural production rather than energy infrastructure.

The Koompartu project is the latest in a series of agricultural microgrid development projects delivered by AGL in South Australia and New South Wales (NSW). In 2024, AGL completed a microgrid at Cadell Orchards in the Riverina region of NSW for Australian Farming Services, featuring 4.8 MW of solar power and 4.2 MWh of battery storage, reducing diesel reliance by 85%. A year later, the company delivered a system at the nearby Canally almond orchard under a long-term PPA model, including 6.5 MW of solar power and a 5.1 MWh battery energy storage system.