Coleambally Solar Farm is now up and running at full capacity as of Friday, making it the largest producer of solar energy in all of Australia.
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The 550 hectare farm boasts 567,800 solar panels, which will produce enough emission-free renewable energy to power 65,000 households every year.
The solar farm ended up being even bigger than the initial plans released last year, which were already considered highly ambitious.
The solar farm will be a literal powerhouse for the local economy, and during the construction phase alone it created almost 400 jobs for Coleambally and the surrounding Riverina area.
The farm is owned by French company Neoen, and the Australian branch’s managing director Franck Woitiez said Coleambally was now leading the country in renewable energy
“Coleambally Solar Farm is an example of the projects that will underpin a modern energy system in Australia,’ Mr Woitiez said.
“We are proud of this achievement and would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Riverina community for allowing us to realise the full potential of this landmark project.”
The carbon dioxide emissions reductions will be equivalent to taking 90,000 cars off the road or planting 530,000 trees, according to Neoen.
Neoen CEO Xavier Barbaro said Coleambolly’s solar farm was a landmark project for the company.
“We are very proud to be bringing into service this new power plant,” Mr Barbaro said.
“Australia is well-suited to the development of renewable energy, and we will pursue our future developments with the same integrity and respect for local areas as we have always shown.”
The energy produced will be sold into the grid under a 12-year power purchase agreement with EnergyAustralia.
About 70 per cent of the farm’s energy will go to EnergyAustralia and the rest will be sold directly to the energy market.
Site preparations began in January 2018, with full construction and connection completed between March and September 2018.
Coleambally was chosen for the site because of its abundance of sun, wide open areas, and close proximity to an existing electrical substation.
Bouygues Construction Australia built the solar farm, and they will be the ones running it on the ground.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
