The company will also provide engineering and procurement services for the project as well as maintenance services for a period of five years after commissioning.
To be equipped with approximately 1,350,000 advanced thin-film PV modules, the plant will generate clean, renewable energy with no emissions, waste or water consumption during operation.
The project will generate enough electricity to power more than 33,000 average New South Wales homes and avoid more than 203,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The project, which is expected to come online in mid-2015, is expected to create around 300 direct construction jobs, and significantly boost the local economy by engaging local contractors, adding around 2% to the gross regional product of the community.
Earlier the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the government had provided funding for AGL’s solar PV power projects – Nyngan (102MW) and Broken Hill (53MW) in New South Wales. First Solar is likely to begin construction of the second project in mid-2014.
First Solar vice president of business development for Asia Pacific Jack Curtis said the start of construction at the Nyngan solar project is a significant milestone for the advancement of Australia’s utility-scale solar industry.
"Each project that First Solar constructs builds acceptance of and confidence in utility-scale solar as an effective source of power generation in Australia.
"As the Nyngan project develops, we look forward to seeing its impact, not only in generating important local job opportunities, but also in strengthening the solar industry’s position within Australia’s energy mix," added Curtis.
Image: The Nyngan solar project will feature around 1,350,000 advanced thin-film PV modules. Photo: courtesy of Freedigitalphoto.net.
