Redmud builds ‘sub-utility’ solar farms up to 5MW, which generally do not take up more than 25 acres of land. We always aim for the maximum capacity available at each site, however, sometimes this will be reduced due to SA Power Networks planning constraints. The final area will always be determined with the landowner before the Lease is executed.

Redmud Lease Agreements run for 30 years, with an additional 10 years (two optional periods of 5 years each) if the tenant wishes to extend the lease at the end of the initial period.

The Agreement for Lease is signed first and forms the foundation of the future Lease. This agreement gives Redmud the option over the premises to be leased whilst necessary approvals are being obtained to ensure that a commercially viable solar farm can be built.

There is no obligation for landowners to use any of their own funds to get involved; all mandatory costs relating to executing the agreements are covered by Redmud.

Most solar farm area is made up of solar arrays, being evenly spaced rows of individual solar panels, and surrounded by a black chain mesh fence for security. There are also smaller cleared areas for equipment normally centralized for efficiency.  Boundaries are often screened with native vegetation to meet local government requirements or overcome visual concerns from neighboring properties.

Solar panels contain an anti-reflective coating designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible. They also track to follow the sun each day, meaning any glare will be reflected in the direction of the sun itself. Lastly, whilst there is limited information available on reflection of heat from solar farms, studies to date have indicated that any perceptible
‘heat island’ effect is dissipated a few meters above a solar farm.

Redmud 5MW solar farms take between 9 - 12 months to progress through design, planning and network approvals, and then up to a further 6 months to construct. The entire approvals process is managed by Redmud with very little disruption to the landowner, meaning the land can continue to be used normally throughout this period.

Solar farms produce minimal and infrequent noise that is generally not considered to cause nuisance to nearby properties. Solar panels themselves are silent, and the self-powered electric motors that slowly track them each day are also very quiet. Solar Inverters located at the end of the arrays may have internal fans that will start during hot weather. Equipment centralized in the site may also have larger variable speed fans that start in hotter weather, although this is normally well away from any nearby dwelling. Any noise produced from a Redmud solar farm will be compliant with local government policy requirements and EPA standards.

Site preparation for solar farms generally involves slashing and rolling, although limited areas of a solar farm do need to be cleared, such as around equipment or temporary construction facilities. Often councils may condition that cleared areas be re-seeded upon completion.  Redmud always aim to keep surfaces natural and undisturbed where possible, minimising dust and allowing the land to remain intact.

There are no ongoing obligations to the landowner concerning the solar farm; the infrastructure is fully maintained throughout its operational life.  All equipment is covered with necessary insurances regarding damage, theft, and public liability, both during and after construction.

The Redmud parent company ‘YES Group’ has a unique position in the Solar Development Industry. We are a 100% Australian business currently sourcing capital from two major employee superannuation funds to finance each site. Redmud has an ongoing agreement to Operate and Maintain our solar farms throughout their operational lifetime, as well as manage and sell the Energy that is generated from each site through Australia’s National Electricity Market.

Redmud utilise qualified contractors for ground cover maintenance, the frequency of which can vary from site to site. Some of our landowners have chosen to undertake ground cover maintenance themselves if they can meet our contractor obligations and provided that pricing is comparable to existing rates.

Under the Lease conditions, any equipment within a solar farm will be decommissioned at the end of the lease term and the land returned to its original purpose. Provisions under the Lease also may allow the landowner to purchase the equipment from the tenant if an agreement can be reached by both parties.

Lease payments are made annually in advance and will be increased each year in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Adelaide. The first lease payment is made within 180 days of the formal Lease being signed.

Whilst there can never be a ‘risk-free’ commercial transaction, landowners are first and foremost protected by the Lease under Australian law. Furthermore, because the annual Lease payments are of lesser amount than the income generated by the solar farm, the tenant remains motivated to continue paying them. Lastly, due to the large capital investment made by the solar farm owner, the likelihood of any breach in Lease by the tenant remains low, which would otherwise put their entire asset at risk.