Santos Uses Solar Power at South Oz Processing Plant

Australia’s Santos has deployed solar panels to power its Port Bonython processing plant in South Australia.

The 2.12MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system will generate more than three gigawatt hours/year of emissions-free energy, Santos said June 19. That represents over 6% of electricity used at the plant.

Port Bonython is on the western shore of the Spencer Gulf, and processes natural gas liquids and crude oil piped from the Moomba plant for export. The solar solution was engineered, installed and connected by AGL on time and on budget, Santos said.

"This solar installation at Port Bonython is our biggest demonstration yet of how we can work with renewables to not only reduce our carbon emissions but to also free up more gas for the domestic markets," Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said.

Santos said it is investing in carbon reduction across assets, including converting oil beam pumps in the Cooper Basin to solar and batteries.

Last month, the company announced the launch of a battery project for Darwin LNG, operated by ConocoPhillips.