AGL Energy constructs major solar‑battery microgrid for Koompartu almond farm in South Australia

Australian energy retailer AGL Energy, together with US‑based private‑equity firm RRG Capital Management, will build a roughly 15‑hectare renewable microgrid for Koompartu Farms, the largest almond orchard in South Australia’s Riverland region. The system will include a 9.2 MW solar photovoltaic array with more than 15,600 single‑axis tracking panels, a 10.2 MWh battery energy storage system split into four units, 16 diesel backup generators and about 19 km of underground high‑voltage distribution lines.

Delivered under a 20‑year power purchase agreement, AGL will finance, construct, own, operate and maintain the assets while supplying power to the farm. The microgrid is expected to cut diesel generator usage by roughly 88%, reduce emissions and provide reliable electricity for critical irrigation, matching the energy demand of a small town of about 3,000 residents. AGL’s general manager of sustainable business energy solutions Brendan Weinart said the project demonstrates how tailored microgrid solutions can help agribusinesses transition to cleaner, more resilient energy.

The installation will also be connected to the South Australian Power Networks grid to draw additional power when solar generation is insufficient, marking one of the largest privately owned non‑mining microgrids in Australia and a significant step in the sector’s shift toward clean energy.