The Goonumbla Solar Farm outside Parkes will power 45,000 homes. (Photo: goonumblasolarfarm.com/)
Two major solar farm developments took shape over the past two weeks in Parkes.
Construction of the Goonumbla Solar Farm was successfully completed, and plans to build a third solar farm was given the green light by the state government.
The 69.75 MW Goonumbla Solar Farm, located 10km west of Parkes, will produce enough energy to supply more than 45,000 homes, while avoiding the emission of 140,000 tons of CO2 per year.
The construction of the farm by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) created up to 250 jobs, with seven remaining now that the plant is operational.
“We are glad to successfully deliver this project, which is our first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Snowy Hydro. It proves that a consolidated player like FRV is capable to deliver top quality solar farms notwithstanding the increased challenges in the Australian renewable energy market and generally in a moment of global turmoil,” said Carlo Frigerio, Managing Director of FRV in Australia.
Goonumbla Solar Farm is one of seven PPAs developed and secured by FRV for solar projects in Australia. Snowy Hydro’s CEO, Paul Broad said his company contracted over 1,000MW of clean, green energy projects of which Goonumbla is one.
The third solar development to be built west of Parkes is the 80MW Quorn Park solar farm that includes a 20MWh battery storage system. Development approval was granted by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, despite a large number of objections submitted by several neighbouring farmers.
According to the Notice of Decision, the development was approved for the range of benefits including a capital investment of around $89 million and up to 130 construction jobs. Once complete it would generate enough electricity to power around 30,000 homes.
The battery storage component of the project is said to provide “dispatchable” solar power to the National Energy Market, and will assist in transitioning the grid from coal and gas-fired power stations to renewable energy.