Wilpena Solar Farm is a 145 MW solar power station in South Australia, Australia. It is operated by AGL. Based on reported annual generation of 1 GWh, it can supply roughly 257 homes. It ranks #137 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 19.6% of Australia's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (38.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id AUS0000447.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 145 MW, Wilpena Solar Farm is well above the median solar plant in Australia (47 MW). Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 0%, from 1 GWh of reported generation; the median for 8 solar plants in Australia that report generation is 19%
- Generation trend
- 1 GWh in 2013 and 1 GWh in 2018 (+12%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 1 GWh; 2013: 1 GWh
- Share of Australia solar capacity
- 3.3% of 4,331 MW across 69 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by AGL. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 31.5°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 55% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 27/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #5 largest solar power plant of 69 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 69 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 4,331 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Bungala II · Solar · 110 MW · South Australia
- Bungala I · Solar · 110 MW · South Australia
- Playford power station · Coal · 90 MW · South Australia
- Northern Augusta power station · Coal · 520 MW · South Australia
- Lincoln Gap · Wind · 10 MW · South Australia
- Peterborough SA · Solar · 4.9 MW · South Australia
Location
Coordinates -31.5234, 138.6198 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Wilpena Solar Farm?
Wilpena Solar Farm is a 145 MW solar power plant in South Australia, Australia.
How much electricity does Wilpena Solar Farm generate?
Wilpena Solar Farm generates about 1 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Wilpena Solar Farm?
Wilpena Solar Farm is operated by AGL.