Construction to begin on two Qld solar farms

Construction is about to begin on two new large-scale solar farms near Collinsville in north Queensland.

Developer Edify Energy’s latest large-scale solar projects are the 150 MW (AC) Daydream Solar Farm and the 50 MW (AC) Hayman Solar Farm. They are located near its 57.5 MW (AC) Whitsunday Solar Farm and the 57.5 MW (AC) Hamilton Solar Farm, which are already under construction. Another 42 MW (AC) solar farm is being developed by RATCH-Australia Corporation, at the site of the disused Collinsville power station. All five projects have secured finance from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

The finance is part of the CEFC’s broader investment in both large- and small-scale solar, which now involves commitments of more than $900 million for projects and programs valued at around $2.7 billion.

“These developments are helping drive Australia’s clean energy transformation, by taking advantage of ideal solar energy generation conditions and building experience and expertise in the sector,” said CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth.

“We are looking to finance projects that enhance grid stability while developing new renewable energy generators. These two new projects have the ability to integrate future storage solutions, increasing the clean energy benefits to the grid.”

Learmonth said the solar projects also reflect the CEFC’s focus on delivering clean energy solutions in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area as part of its Reef Funding Program. The CEFC is lending around $90 million to the latest Edify Energy projects, as part of a syndicated debt facility involving Commonwealth Bank and French investment bank Natixis. BlackRock Real Assets, on behalf of its clients, is providing equity towards the projects.

Origin has signed a 12-year power purchase agreement for 100% of the output from the Daydream solar farm, which is expected to be operational by mid-2018. Energy generated by the Hayman solar farm will be sold into the grid on a merchant basis.

RCR Tomlinson is constructing the solar farms, which are expected to create around 300 jobs during construction. The projects consist of about two million solar panels. Together, the solar farms are expected to abate more than 476,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and generate enough power for an estimated 73,000 homes.

Earlier this year the CEFC committed a total of $77 million to three other Edify Energy projects — the Whitsunday and Hamilton solar farms, and the 50 MW (AC) Gannawarra Solar Farm in Victoria. The CEFC has also committed $60 million to the RATCH-Australia Corporation solar farm at the old Collinsville Power station site. Chan said that the CEFC remained committed to financing more large-scale solar projects where they were needed.