Neoen plugs in first 100 MW of 400-MW Queensland solar project

• A 400-MW solar farm in Queensland, Australia's biggest, has become with the ability of feeding greater than 100 MW right into the grid, the state government stated on Thursday.

The AUD-600-million (USD 416m/EUR 409m) solar farm of French programmer Neoen SA (EPA: NEOEN) is called the Western Downs Green Power Hub. According to the project's website, a 200-MW battery will be added to the solar park.

Queensland's publicly-owned clean energy business CleanCo is the offtaker of 320 MW of the solar farm's capacity.

The project is advancing in the direction of conclusion with screening works currently being carried out together with Powerlink as well as the Australian Energy Market Operator. Found in the Western Downs Region, close to Powerlink's transmission network and an existing substation, the plant is anticipated to create more than 1,080 GWh annually.

CleanCo board chair Jacqui Walters said the project underpins CleanCo's commitment to bring 1,400 MW of new renewable energy right into the market by 2025. It will utilize this power acquisition agreement (PPA) to aid commercial and also commercial customers with their net zero objectives as well as with developing their international competitiveness with competitively-priced energy, Walters likewise said.

Priest for Energy, Renewables as well as Hydrogen Mick de Brenni stated that the project has currently delivered greater than 450 building and construction jobs. "We're also placing down pressure on future electrical energy costs by developing much more cheap QLD-made energy made from our abundant natural resources," the priest added.