A development application for a $400 million 762-hectare solar farm has been approved in Gladstone, Queensland, expected to aid EV uptake.
The project involving a million solar panels generating about 250mW capable of supply some 122,000 homes has seen its application approved by an independent coordinator-general for the city’s state development area (SDA), subject to conditions.
Acciona Energy’s proposed solar farm will see power fed into the national electricity grid via a connection into the Powerlink Larcom Creek Station, state development, manufacturing, infrastructure and planning minister Cameron Dick says.
“A community benefit fund will also be established by Acciona Energy to invest $50,000 to $120,000 from the project back into the community each year,” he says, adding that could provide a total $1.5m to $3.6m over the project’s lifetime.
It will provide a scholarship and education programme, a research and development programme (partnering with CQU), and a sponsorship and small grants programme for community groups.
Two meteorological monitoring (MET) stations are being installed to gather data on the site’s climatic conditions to fine tune the project.
Natural resources, mines and energy minister Dr Anthony Lynham says the project will contribute to the Palaszczuk Government’s renewable energy target of 50% by 2030, helping reduce emissions and tackle climate change.
Acciona Energy signed a 30-year agreement in April last year with the Queensland Government to lease land for the project.
Great report. MW Should replace mW. So good to see that we are finally seeing the light and jumping head long into renewables. My background is power gen but I’m still glad to see the transition into clean renewable power.