Adani Group – India’s largest solar developer – is planning to commence construction on two major solar projects in Australia next year. Both projects are part of the company’s efforts to develop renewal energy projects – with a total capacity of 1,500 megawatts – in Australia within the next five years.
Land agreements are already in place for the solar projects in Queensland and South Australia – though the exact locations have not yet been disclosed publicly – and Adani has already commenced the design and tendering phase for both projects.
Each solar project is said to generate up to 200 megawatts of renewal energy, enough to power about 32,000 homes. The solar projects will also be supporting thousands of jobs for both South Australian and Queensland regions.
“Large-scale renewables are a new industry for regional Queensland. New industries create new jobs and attract new investment.
“Already there is more than $1 billion in new investment planned and hundreds of construction jobs to be created,” said QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Adani’s Queensland solar project is said to be located near Moranbah – about 200 kilometres south west of Mackay – with a cost of more than $200 million.
According to Mackay Conservation Group coordinator Peter McCallum, though Adani’s Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin has been subject to disputes in the past, the company’s solar projects are more welcomed.
“This is a sensible move that recognises the long term future of electricity production is in renewables.
“We also welcome the jobs that construction of a large scale solar power plant will bring without endangering jobs in the Great Barrier Reef tourism. This is a win for everybody. Adani is fundamentally an energy company, not a miner, and their expertise is shifting rapidly towards becoming a clean energy producer in India and now in Australia,” Mr McCallum said.
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Source: The Economic Times, ABC.net.au and The Courier Mail
