Building and construction begins on Australia's 'largest' hybrid solar and battery energy storage space system

Mar 22, 2021 05:08 PM ET
  • Building and construction has begun on what asserts to be Australia's largest crossbreed solar as well as battery energy storage facility.
Building and construction begins on Australia's 'largest' hybrid solar and battery energy storage space system
Image: UPC/AC Australia

The New England Solar Farm makes up a 720MW hybrid solar and also battery project throughout 2 areas of land near Uralla in New South Wales (NSW). It is being developed by UPC \ AC Australia-- a joint venture between UPC Renewables and AC Energy, a subsidiary of the Ayala Corporation in the Philippines.

The project will certainly be given birth to in 2 stages. In the initial stage, engineering purchase and also construction (EPC) companion Green Light Professionals, a subsidiary of Spanish solar company Elecnor, will build 400MW of solar ability, a substation as well as a 50MW/50MWh battery energy storage system. This phase is expected to be finished in very early 2023, after which Green Light will certainly include an additional 320MW of solar capability, and expand the battery ability to 400MWh. The Elecnor subsidiary will accomplish operation and upkeep (O&M) for two years after the project comes online. Bordering roadways attaching to the solar farm are also being updated this month, as well as are set to be completed in June.

A declaration from the project designers stated the entire building and construction duration can produce about 700 jobs, with 15 of those recurring during the solar farm as well as battery system's lifetime. It will certainly likewise be created to enable adequate area for sheep to continue grazing on the land in between as well as beneath panels.

A grid link agreement with local circulation network driver (DNO) Transgrid was signed last June, before Elecnor won the EPC contract for the project in October. Once created, it is wished the New England Solar Farm will certainly generate 1.800 GWh of clean power annually, powering around 250,000 homes in the area.

The project will support NSW's strategy to deploy 12GW of clean power generation assets and 2GW of energy storage by 2030, transforming the region right into an "energy superpower" in its shift to renewable resources.


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