Apex Energy Australia wins Premier’s Award for Community and Collaboration for Oodnadatta Renewable Power Station
Apex Energy Australia has received the Community and Collaboration Award at the 2025 SA Premier’s Awards in Energy and Mining for its work delivering the Oodnadatta Renewable Power Station. The project has restored reliable power to one of South Australia’s most remote communities, where temperatures frequently reach the mid-40s and repeated outages had placed residents and essential services at risk.
Home to around 200 people across the area, Oodnadatta had relied on an ageing diesel generator that failed during extreme heat, leaving the town without power for extended periods. Under the Remote Area Energy Supply program, Apex Energy was engaged to develop a long term solution that could withstand harsh outback conditions and provide the stability the community needed.
Managing Director Paul Stallan said the project represents a significant milestone for regional resilience. “It’s not every day you get the chance to deliver a project like this. When we switched it on, it was one of those moments where you take a breath and think how good is this. To see technology normally found in metro areas operating in the middle of remote South Australia gives real resilience to the community. It’s something we should be proud of as a state.”
The new system includes 569 kW of solar, 1.1 MW of battery storage and three 256 KVA backup generators, designed and manufactured to operate independently of the national grid. This hybrid setup now supplies smoother, more consistent energy to households, the local school, health services and small businesses. By prioritising solar and battery, the community has significantly reduced its reliance on diesel, with generator runtime cut by more than 50 per cent within the first months of operation.
Apex Energy also prioritised local engagement throughout the project, with thirty eight per cent of non-skilled labour sourced directly from Oodnadatta. This created employment opportunities and ensured residents were actively involved in shaping the outcome.
Lead Electrical Engineer Sachin Kumar said designing for Oodnadatta required a purpose-built solution.“Connecting to the grid simply isn’t possible in places like Oodnadatta. This project was about delivering the kind of reliable power most Australians take for granted, but which has been out of reach for this town.”
Since commissioning in March 2025, the upgraded system has provided greater energy security during periods of extreme heat, reduced the risk of unplanned outages and strengthened confidence within the community. Apex Energy continues to monitor and maintain the system under the RAES program to ensure long term reliability.
Full breakdown of the Oodnadatta Renewable Power Station project here.