Ratch Australia has turned on its first batch of panels at the 42.5MW Collinsville solar photovoltaic project in central Queensland.
The move is part of a staged testing and commissioning process being conducted ahead of the $100m (€64m) project achieving full commercial operation in September.
Ratch head of business development Anthony Yeates said the testing introduces the “electrification” of the project which is located next to the decommissioned Collinsville coal-fired power station.
“First generation is a meaningful milestone as we’re now generating and exporting electricity to the grid. We’ll be ramping up the amount of generation as the project reaches completion point next month,” he said.
“The project showcases how old coal-fired generation sites can be repurposed as new renewable energy bases, benefiting from existing infrastructure, while helping to transform Australia’s energy mix.”
Alinta Energy will purchase electricity and large-scale generation certificates generated by the project through to the end of 2030, the company said.
Image: Pixabay
Ratch flicks switch in Oz
By EBS