The 12 projects, which were selected as part of the ARENA’s multi-million dollar large-scale solar round, are expected to triple Australia’s large-scale solar capacity from 240MW to 720MW.
ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said that the A$92m ($70.5m) funding support will ensure competitive, sustainable energy option for large-scale solar.
“ARENA is working to accelerate Australia’s shift to a sustainable, affordable and reliable energy future and our work supporting the development of Australia’s large-scale solar industry is central to this vision.”
Capable of providing electricity required to power 150,000 average Australian homes, the solar projects are expected to deliver one tenth of the new capacity required to meet the country’s 2020 renewable energy target.
By the end of this decade, Australia intends to double its renewable energy generation to 33,000GWh.
Frischknecht added: “Regional economies will benefit massively from the growing big solar industry, with 2,300 direct jobs and thousands more indirect jobs expected to be created by this round.”
The projects in Queensland include 110MW Darling Downs, 58.1MW Whitsunday, 50MW Kidston, 42MW Collinsville, 25MW Oake and 15MW Longreach solar farm.
Other projects located in New South Wales include 50.6MW Parkes, 42.5MW Manildra, 25MW Griffith, 24.2MW Dubbo, and 20MW White Rock as well as 20MW Emu Downs project in Cervantes, Western Australia.
Commenting on the funding for Darling Downs solar farm, Origin energy markets CEO Frank Calabria said: “The strategic location of the solar farm adjacent to Origin’s Darling Downs Power Station gives the project distinct benefits and Origin’s substantial gas-fired generation portfolio will help to balance out the intermittent nature of renewable generation.”
Scheduled to be completed by the end of next year, the solar plants involve A$1bn ($770) in commercial investments.
Image: Australia plans to double its renewable energy generation to 33,000GWh by 2020.Photo: courtesy of franky242/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
