Yoorndoo Ilga in Barngarla language means 'having or possessing the sun'.
The proposal for Yoorndoo Ilga Solar came about via a lease agreement that the Barngarla People Determination Aboriginal Corporation negotiated with Amp Energy Australia and partner EPS Energy in August 2021.
The project is a partnership alliance model between Yoorndoo Ilga Solar and the Barngarla People. It's being developed by EPS Energy and AMP Energy in partnership with the Barngarla Community.
The project is on Barngarla land and the site is owned in freehold by the the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation (BDAC).
Key project goals include providing significant positive economic, social and environmental outcomes, including:
- enabling equitable participation of the Barngarla people in the South Australian renewable energy sector
- provide long term revenue to the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation from sustainable use of their land for the benefit of the Barngarla community
- create industry and employment diversity for the Barngarla community and Whyalla region.
Amp is funding the co-development, development approval, and construction of 300 megawatts (MW)(AC) of utility scale solar and 250MW/500MWh battery storage proposed over 665 hectares of land. Amp will then be the long term asset owner and operator through the 35 years of the project.
Energy from the project, located 13km north of Whyalla, will connect to the South Australian and National Electricity Market via Cultana Substation.
The project is one of three that forms the renewable energy hub of South Australia. All three projects when built will likely together do hydrogen and ammonia.