1414 Degrees Ltd (14D) has announced that its joint venture, SiliconAurora Pty Ltd (SiliconAurora), has entered into a term sheet with Vast Solar 1 Pty Ltd (Vast Solar) and OZ Minerals Services Pty Ltd (OZM) — a subsidiary of BHP Group Limited (BHP) — regarding potential access to the ElectraNet owned 275kV Hill-to-Hill Transmission Line (H2H) in South Australia.
The H2H currently services the two BHP group mines in the north of South Australia, Prominent Hill and Carrapateena.
The term sheet sets out an in-principle process for SiliconAurora and Vast Solar to potentially obtain access to the H2H to connect the initial stages of the Aurora Energy Precinct, a project owned by SiliconAurora.
The Precinct, which plans to develop a 140MW/280MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), is a joint venture between 1414 Degrees Ltd and Vast Renewables Limited.
Approval for access to the H2H is required from both ElectraNet and OZM, with negotiations for a possible binding agreement set to be completed by 30 September 2024.
SiliconAurora and Vast Solar will commission an independent technical review to assess the risks associated with the proposed connections, with the term sheet subject to certain termination scenarios if OZM is not satisfied with the risks following the review.
SiliconAurora has already submitted a transmission connection application to ElectraNet for the BESS to connect to the National Electricity Market through the H2H line.
The application is currently in progress.
The Aurora Energy Precinct, acquired by 14D in November 2019, had Development Approval for 150MW Concentrated Solar Power and 70 MW PV electricity generation.
Subsequently, approvals were obtained for a 140MW/280MWh BESS and a grid-scale SiBox pilot, 14D’s latent heat battery technology.
Vast acquired a 50 per cent interest in SiliconAurora Pty Ltd from 14D in 2022 and obtained approvals for its modular concentrated solar technology and a pilot solar methanol plant.
