Oodnadatta Renewable Power Station

Delivering Reliable Power to Remote South Australia

In the heart of the South Australian outback, more than 1,000 kilometres from Adelaide, the remote town of Oodnadatta faced a critical infrastructure challenge. With no access to the national grid and reliance on an ageing diesel generator that caught fire mid upgrade, the community, known for frequent power outages, was left without a stable electricity supply.

The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) commissioned a solution that would not only restore reliable power to the region but deliver it sustainably and with long term resilience. Apex Energy Australia was engaged to lead the design and delivery of the new renewable power station.

The Issue

In January 2025, Oodnadatta endured an eight and a half hour power outage on one of South Australia’s hottest days, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. Several similar outages across the summer affected local residents, disrupted services, and impacted the tourism trade of the iconic Oodnadatta Roadhouse.

The Challenge

This was not a standard infrastructure project. The town’s remote location required over 12 hours of travel to access, with limited accommodation, a stretched supply chain, and restricted contractor availability. Delivering materials, coordinating multiple partners, and ensuring consistent communication were essential to the project’s success.

Apex Energy’s Role

Apex Energy managed the complete design and build of the new power station. This included:

• 569 kilowatts of solar PV
• 1.1 Megawatt hours of battery storage
• Three 256 KVA backup diesel generators
• Fully integrated control systems for seamless operation

The system was designed to operate independently of the national grid and tailored to the specific needs of the town. In addition to the technical delivery, 38 percent of non skilled labour was sourced locally, contributing to economic engagement and community participation.

Collaboration and Partnerships

The project brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including DEM, the Oodnadatta community, and industry partners such as All Gen Solutions, Exide Technologies, GHD, Sage Automation, ComAp, and Solar Mounting Solutions from Mount Gambier. Apex Energy played a key role in aligning partners across the lifecycle of the project.

Community Feedback

While DEM did not provide a formal statement, local feedback was strongly positive. A staff member from the local school said:

“This is an amazing outcome for the town and community. We really need reliable power.”

From the Apex Team

“It was great to be part of such an interesting project from start to finish. Being able to give back to a remote community what others take for granted is incredibly rewarding.”
– Sachin Kumar, Lead Electrical Engineer, Apex Energy Australia

Looking Ahead

The Oodnadatta Renewable Power Station is a strong example of how tailored, integrated solutions can deliver lasting outcomes for regional communities. Apex Energy continues to work with government and infrastructure partners to deliver scalable, future ready energy systems across Australia.