Monarto Energy Project
Project overview
Approximately 70 km south-east of Adelaide and 6km west of Murray Bridge, Monarto, SA is home to one of Flow Power’s combined energy projects. The Monarto Energy Project features a solar farm and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Nicolai Road.
Monarto Energy Project builds on Flow Power’s growing pipeline of renewable projects and forms part of our broader strategy to deliver renewable energy to South Australia.
Project details
Featuring more than 10,600 solar panels and over 50,000 metres of string cabling, the Monarto Energy Project has been operational since January 2026, following the grant of Development Application in 2024.
The Project features a 6.8 MW solar farm combined with 15 MWh of battery storage across approximately 30 hectares to supply renewable energy while supporting the local grid during periods of peak demand.
The region of Monarto was chosen for the project due to its proximity to existing grid infrastructure, land availability and ample sunshine.
How does the project work?
Similar to other combined solar and battery projects (such as our projects in Berri and Newstead), the solar and battery storage system work together to generate and store clean energy.
The solar panels capture energy from the sun during daylight hours, and supply this to the grid. If there is excess electricity generated, this will be stored in the battery. The battery will then discharge this energy when demand is high on the grid – typically during morning and evening peaks – helping reduce demand strain and drive down prices for South Australia.
Partnership with Monarto Safari Park
As part of our Community Benefit Initiatives, Flow Power is proud to be partnering with Monarto Safari Park to deliver new habitats as part of the endangered Tasmanian Devil breeding program. The program contributes to the protection and recovery of one of Australia’s most iconic species.
After completion of the new Tasmanian Devil habitats, Flow Power will support the habitat restoration for the yellow-footed Rock Wallaby.
Local environmental restoration
Also close to the project site is Bio·R’s large-scale environmental restoration project.
We are partnering with Bio·R to reconstruct native wildlife habitat on local land over the next 5 years. Flow Power also volunteered at Bio·R’s corporate planting day in 2025 and 2026, and plan to return to volunteer in future years.
Ngarrindjeri United Basketball Club Sponsorship
In 2025, Flow Power sponsored the Ngarrindjeri United Basketball Club.
The club supports local First Nations youth to participate in basketball at a local level.
Working with local landowners and farmers
Across our project sites, we work to promote the use of beneficial agrivoltaics.
At Monarto, we work with local landowners and farmers to run sheep across both sites to graze. The sheep will help to manage vegetation while the panels provide shade for the flock.
The land for the project
The site is located on the traditional lands of The Ngarrindjeri Nation.
We worked with the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation (NAC) and Stenhouse Heritage to perform a cultural heritage assessment of the site.
Based on the findings from the survey, Flow Power worked with NAC to ensure recommended requirements are now incorporated into our induction programs. We made sure to include NAC heritage stop work procedures in our Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP).
For each of our project sites, we aim to work with local First Nations corporations or businesses to conduct a Cultural Heritage Survey. We also prefer creating a Cultural Heritage Management Plan to ensure care of Country is carried out during construction, and throughout the entire life cycle of the project.
The benefits of batteries
Battery projects are ideal renewable firming assets as they can quickly supply the grid with energy during peak demand periods or blackouts.
Battery assets can respond faster than coal generators, making them ideal for firming electricity supply in ways that thermal generation can’t. This helps create a more stable electricity network and makes batteries a valuable part of the NEM’s generation mix.
The battery operates to allow a greater share of renewable energy in the network, by absorbing excess electricity produced during the day and storing for use in the evening.
The battery will also provide Contingency FCAS (Frequency Control and Ancillary Services) to ensure the stability and reliability of the local distribution network. Put simply, FCAS keeps the grid within a safe frequency by balancing supply and demand, helping to prevent blackouts and outages.
FAQs
We work with the local Fire Service to ensure our fire safety measures are suitable for the local area. We have a water tank on site which the fire service has full access to.
Additionally, vegetation management is key in ensuring fire risk is low. At Monarto, we plan to run sheep across our site to ensure grasses are naturally kept very low. Flow Power performs pre-Fire Danger Season assessment of its energy projects to confirm vegetation is well managed.
A team of technicians regularly inspects and cleans the panels, monitors battery health, and ensures everything runs smoothly.
Work with us
Flow Power is committed to working with local businesses in the regions where we operate. If you’re supplier or local business looking to partner with us, we want to hear from you.
If you’re wondering whether your land is right for a renewable energy project or want to learn more about the project development process, register your interest in project development opportunities with us.
We’re here to help.
If you’d like to know more about the Monarto Energy Project, provide feedback or submit a complaint, get in touch with us at info@MonartoEnergyProject.com.au or complete this form.