Resources, Fuels and Clean Technologies
State Prosperity Project
The State Prosperity Project is a co-ordinated initiative by the State Government to unlock the full potential of renewable energy, critical minerals and green manufacturing to reindustrialise this region and herald a new era of prosperity for South Australia. Through our State Prosperity Project, the South Australian Government is making a once-in-a-generation investment to leverage the state’s abundant renewable energy resources and enable green manufacturing opportunities, supported by the Hydrogen Jobs Plan, which have the potential to transform the Upper Spencer Gulf.
The global energy transition will drive the world's economy for decades to come, and with our unique combination of sun, wind and valuable minerals in the Upper Spencer Gulf and surrounds, we have what the world wants. What the world demands.
South Australia's Green Iron/steel strategy and Expression of Interest (EOI)
South Australia's Green iron and steel strategy - a part of the government's State Prosperity Project - sets our vision to position South Australia as the partner of choice for decarbonised steelmaking. We will be a key contributor of the minerals, green iron and green steel required to support the global transition.
The strategy's objectives are to:
- Enhance South Australia's comparative advantage
- Establish local green steel industry foundations
- Ensure a sustainable, long-term industry and shared prosperity.
As part of the strategy, the government is seeking involvement from businesses to jointly investigate and invest in building a green supply chain, making green iron production a reality. An Expression of Interest process is now in progress. EOI submissions are due 1 October 2024.
For more information visit the Green iron and steel webpage.
Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park
Located in resource-rich South Australia, the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park (PAREP) is a combined wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid project, designed to provide predictable power more uniformly across the day.
Watch the video to find out more about the Southern Hemisphere’s largest hybrid renewable project.
Low Carbon Minerals for a Low Carbon World
As the world’s largest economies target net zero emissions, green minerals, metals and fuels are in growing demand. How these commodities are sourced, and reducing the footprint required to produce them is of increasing interest to manufacturers, investors and miners alike.
Watch to see how South Australia has become a destination for companies looking to transform the energy and mining sector.
Clean Hydrogen: The Fuel of the Future
South Australia is a renewable energy powerhouse pioneering the way to a more sustainable future, and on track to reach the target of 100% net renewables by 2027.
Renewable energy investments:
- Two world-leading home battery schemes
- Twenty two wind farms
- Three utility scale solar farms
- World's leading lithium-ion battery at the Hornsdale Power Reserve.
The South Australian government has committed funding of $593 million to the delivery of the Hydrogen Jobs Plan (the Plan) and has established the Office of Hydrogen Power SA to deliver the plan.
Under the Plan, the South Australian government will be delivering significant hydrogen infrastructure by 2025, including 250MWe of electrolysers, 200MW of power generation and hydrogen storage facilities in the Whyalla local government area. The Hydrogen Jobs Plan will deliver a range of benefits for South Australia:
- Create jobs for South Australians
- Enhance South Australia’s grid security with new dispatchable generation
- Prove hydrogen production and generation technology at scale
- Help to unlock pipeline of renewable energy developments and associated manufacturing opportunities
- Support South Australia’s continued clean energy transition and decarbonisation.
Critical minerals project opportunities in South Australia
Discover South Australia's significant global and national resources of critical minerals.
Explore opportunities
Renewable Energy Zones
South Australia has excellent solar and wind resources particularly around the Spencer Gulf region. Thermal winds from temperature differences between land and sea, lead to wind energy production. When combined with the midday solar generation this results in a better generation output.
World leading regulatory regime - Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023
The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023 passed Parliament in November 2023 and will provide a leading practice regulatory framework for the development and regulation of large scale renewable energy and hydrogen projects from development through to decommissioning of this significant infrastructure.
The Act establishes a competitive process for developers to bid for access to government owned land and State waters within “release areas” in which environmental, cultural and other impacts will be taken into consideration to inform where large scale renewable energy and hydrogen projects can and cannot be hosted.
The Act is intended to commence in mid 2024 after regulations have been drafted and consulted, and potential release areas identified and developed through a consultative process. It will be a significant enabler for large scale renewable energy and green hydrogen projects, including the Hydrogen Jobs Plan.
View the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act
Infrastructure SA’s Northern Water Desalination Project
Northern Water aims to provide a new, climate independent water source for the Far North, Upper Spencer Gulf and Eastern Eyre Peninsula regions of South Australia, to enable the growth of industries crucial to achieving net-zero goals, including the emerging green energy and hydrogen industries.
See the Business Case Summary
See the Business Case Summary
Investing in Resources, Fuels and Clean Tech
Nationally, we are leading the uptake of renewable energy, while also broadening our energy sector into batteries, thermal storage, hydrogen production and storage and pumped water storage in disused mine pits.
South Australia boasts an abundance of natural assets – including significant renewable energy zones for wind and solar, mineral deposits of copper, gold, iron ore, graphite, gas and petroleum products – meaning that global demand for resources can be serviced and our technical expertise is already high.
Investment advantages
South Australia contains 68% of Australia’s copper resources, 79% of Australia’s uranium and 25% of its gold. Additionally, South Australia has 66% of Australia's graphite, 5% of its iron ore and 7% of its zircon.
South Australia’s excellent solar and wind resources, particularly close to the Spencer Gulf where thermal winds resulting from the temperature differences between land and sea, means wind energy production, when combined with the midday solar generation, results in a better generation output.
Nationally, we are leading the uptake of renewable energy, while also broadening our energy sector into batteries, thermal storage, hydrogen storage and pumped water storage in disused mine pits.
Connected ecosystem
Here in South Australia we’re proud to have fostered a strong relationship between government, industry and academia.
We provide a scalable state of being able to interlink clusters across sectors such as critical technologies and global players include MIT.
Our technology and innovation ecosystem can provide support across mining technology capabilities such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and drones, as well as blockchain technology which allows for the creation and maintenance of a continuously growing list of records (blocks).
Our technology and innovation ecosystem can provide support across mining technology capabilities such as artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and drones, as well as blockchain technology which allows for the creation and maintenance of a continuously growing list of records (blocks).
Innovation precincts
Collaboration is in our DNA here in South Australia. You will have access to some of the best innovation precincts where high-profile businesses, academia, industry bodies and government are co-located and working together.
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Lot Fourteen
Lot Fourteen is a space that fosters collaboration and innovation across sectors and disciplines, including defence and space, artificial intelligence, digital health, machine learning and robotics, cyber security and creative industries.
Business clusters
Our industry clusters provide strong intellectual and research foundations, providing opportunities to share talent, technology and infrastructure.
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Adelaide Airport
With global acknowledgement that aviation is a vital catalyst for economic growth, Airport Business District is a key economic gateway that seamless integrates zones for a range of industries.
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Lot Fourteen
Lot Fourteen is a space that fosters collaboration and innovation across sectors and disciplines, including defence and space, artificial intelligence, digital health, machine learning and robotics, cyber security and creative industries.
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Tonsley Mining Energy Services
The Tonsley innovation district is home to key energy and mining organisations, including CORE Innovation’s satellite office, Onshore Petroleum Centre of Excellence, and the South Australia Drill Core Reference Library, Australian Hydrogen Centre, SIMEC Energy Australia and ZEN Energy, and CMW Geosciences.
Investment opportunities
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Investment: Greenfield
Central Eyre Iron Project
Iron Road is developing a magnetite mineral resource on the Eyre Peninsula.
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Investment: BrownfieldCoda Minerals' Elizabeth Creek Project - Copper
Coda Minerals and Torrens Mining have formed entered into a Joint Venture Agreement for the exploration and feasibility work related to the Elizabeth Creek Copper Project.
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Investment: Off-take
Crystal Brook Energy Park (CBEP)
Neoen Australia is developing a large-scale hybrid renewable energy project in the Mid North Region.
Contact
Edit Mucsi
Director, Resources, Fuels and Clean Tech
Department of State Development
Contact