Construction of APA Group’s Emu Downs Solar Farm has taken a further step towards construction with the required commercial agreements now in place with Western Australian energy provider Synergy and UGL Limited named EPC contractor for the $47 million solar farm.
In September 2016, APA was selected to $5.5 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of a Large Scale Solar funding program that will help APA develop a 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm on the site of its Emu Downs Wind Farm in Western Australia, with both solar and wind farms sharing the transmission connection and facilities.APA Group announced yesterday that it has entered into a power purchase agreement with Synergy that allows Synergy to purchase both the energy and the Large-scale Renewable Generation Certificates (“LGCs”) from the 20MW Emu Downs Solar Farm for 12 years from January 2018.
APA Group Managing Director, Mr Mick McCormack, said, "The Emu Downs Solar Project forms part of the execution of our growth strategy in the renewables power generation asset class."
"The expansion of APA’s existing Emu Downs Wind Farm with the complimentary solar generation makes logical and financial sense both from a power generation profile, as well as sharing transmission connection infrastructure. Funding from ARENA also demonstrates the innovative and viable business model of the project that will help Australia transition to a cleaner energy future."
In a company statement on LinkedIn, UGL Limited also shared yesterday that "APA has awarded UGL a contract for the EPC of the Emu Downs Solar Farm, adjacent to APA’s existing Emu Downs Wind Farm in Cervantes Western Australia."
"UGL will also undertake the Operations and Maintenance of the 20MW Solar Farm."
"The contract builds on UGL’s capabilities and expertise from Mt. Majura Solar, Mugga Lane Solar Park and Darwin Airport Solar; confirming UGL as an industry leader in the design and delivery of utility scale solar farms."
With the required commercial agreements now in place for the $47 million Emu Downs Solar Farm, construction is set to commence in January 2017 and completed by January 2018.
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Source: Business News Western Australia, APA Group and UGL Limited