Elecnor to build 72 MW solar PV farm in Moree

Spanish group Elecnor has set up an office in Australia to develop infrastructure and renewables projects and businesses across Australasia.

The new Melbourne-based subsidiary will be called Elecnor Australia. The company has already won its first contract to build a 70 MWdc (56 MWac) photovoltaic plant in Moree, New South Wales. The project is owned by Moree Solar Farm, a subsidiary of Fotowatio Renewables Venture (FRV).

The plant will comprise 232,960 panels covering 191 hectares. Forecast annual output is 155,000 MWh - equivalent to the electricity consumption of around 15,000 homes. It will also entail savings of over 165,000 million tonnes of water compared to a coal-fired plant and prevent the emission of around 95,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year.

The plant is due to come on stream in the second quarter of 2015. Elecnor has chosen Australia as a base for expansion in the Asia-Pacific region.