The APA Group’s $200 million 110MW Darling Downs solar farm which opened in 2019.
Work starts in July on Australia’s biggest solar farm on the Western Downs.
The project will generate enough energy to power about 235,000 Queensland homes and is expected to aid EV uptake there.
Publicly-owned renewable generator CleanCo has given certainty to the project to be built near Chinchilla, creating up to 400MW of renewable energy and 400 jobs, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.
Deputy premier Jackie Trad says renewable energy company Neoen will sell 320MW of its output to Queensland’s CleanCo.
“As our economy emerges from the worst impacts of COVID-19, we need projects ready to go that will create jobs and stimulate spending, especially in regional Queensland,” she says.
“CleanCo’s power purchase agreement enables Neoen to proceed with its Western Downs Green Power Hub project.”
Power generation from the project is scheduled for the first quarter of 2022.
“This is CleanCo’s third investment on behalf of its owners, the people of Queensland, and means Queenslanders now have 820MW of new renewable energy in the pipeline,” Trad adds.
Energy minister Dr Anthony Lynham says the power purchase agreement (PPA) between Neoen and CleanCo will support regional jobs and grow the local economy.
“Neoen will maximise the use of suppliers and the local workforce in Chinchilla and the south-west to ensure the benefits of this development are shared in the region.
“It will also establish an annual $100,000 Community Benefit Fund that provides opportunities for local community-building initiatives for the duration of the project’s life.
“Importantly, this maintains Queensland’s progress towards the Palaszczuk Labor Government target of 50% renewable energy by 2030.”
Neoen Australia managing director Louis de Sambucy says Neoen iss excited to work with CleanCo on one of its first renewable energy projects in Queensland.
“We are 100% committed to delivering this landmark deal by making the most of the region’s abundant solar resources, the use of cutting edge bifacial solar panel technology, and our experience in delivering ground-breaking solar farms on time and on budget.”
Neoen’s Western Downs Green Power Hub is 22km south-east of Chinchilla and will connect to the electricity grid via a new overhead line to publicly-owned Powerlink’s existing Western Downs substation.
