Neoen’s 189MW Coleambally solar project in Australia has started commercial operation.
The 550 hectare solar farm in Riverina, New South Wales, 100%-owned by the French renewable energy developer, has a power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy retailer EnergyAustralia.
Under the PPA terms, EnergyAustralia will take 70% of Coleambally’s output while the rest will be sold directly onto the market.
Construction of Coleambally, which is connected to TransGrid’s high voltage transmission network, created 400 jobs in Rivera.
The Coleambally solar farm will continue to provide a mix of permanent and contracting or temporary job opportunities during its expected service life of 30 years minimum.
Neoen Australia managing director Franck Woitiez says: “Coleambally Solar Farm is an example of the projects that will underpin a modern energy system in Australia. Through the course of its development, we have received enthusiastic response at the regional and state level.
“As a long-term investor in Australia’s renewable energy future, we are proud of this achievement and would like to offer our sincere thanks to the Riverina community for allowing us to realise the full potential of this landmark project.”
According to Woitiez Neoen will continue to work with its partners, and particularly the local communities, councils and state government to ensure that residents and communities in New South Wales benefit from clean, efficient and affordable electricity.
Site preparations began in January 2018, with full construction and connection completed between March and September 2018. Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation, German Landesbank NORD/LB, German government-owned development bank KfW Ipex and Bouygues Construction Australia have all backed the plant’s development and the construction.
Neoen chairman and chief executive Xavier Barbaro says: “We are very proud to be bringing into service this new power plant, which is a perfect illustration of our wide-ranging expertise: our ability to work on both wind and large-scale solar projects in Australia, to negotiate purchase agreements bilaterally with utilities, and to sell part of our production in the spot market now that grid parity has been achieved.
“With this latest project, Neoen confirms its status as Australia’s number one independent renewable energy producer. Australia is well-suited to the development of renewable energy, and we will pursue our future developments with the same integrity and respect for local areas as we have always shown.”