With a final investment decision made, Germany-based renewable energy company Innogy is ready to commence construction this coming October on the large-scale Limondale Solar Farm located near Balranald in New South Wales.
The 349MW Limondale Solar Farm - set to become Australia’s largest solar farm - was acquired by Innogy from Overland Sun Farming in February, together with the 115MW Hillston Solar Farm located near the town of Hillston in the Riverina region.
Currently, preparation works and pre-piling works are underway on site. Commissioning of the new renewable energy facility is set to be done progressively, with full operations expected by mid-2020.
“It makes me proud that we can start with construction of our first utility-scale PV plant in Australia - one of the continents with the highest solar irradiation per square metre. To expand renewable energies it is of vital importance that beside the excellent yield the country is supportive for increasing the share of renewable energies,” Innogy COO Renewables Hans Bünting said.
Belectric - a subsidiary of Innogy - will undertake engineering, procurement and construction as well as operation and maintenance of both Limondale and Hillston solar projects.
Innogy is investing approximately $650 million towards the development of both Limondale and Hillston projects.
“Electricity prices in Australia have risen strongly over the past decade and are among the highest in the world. An expansion of renewable energies can contribute towards reducing the energy costs for customers. Especially wind and solar are cost-effective alternatives in a country with excellent natural renewable resources,” Innogy Renewables Australia Pty Ltd CEO Thorsten Blanke said.
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Source: Renew Economy; Innogy; PV Magazine