X-ELIO has inaugurated its 200MW Blue Grass Solar Farm, located in Queensland’s Western Downs, 14km from Chinchilla.
The solar farm is one of Queensland’s 50 large-scale renewable projects and will help support the State Government’s Renewable Energy Target (QRET) to generate 70% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2032, and 80% by 2035.
The farm is expected to deliver 420GWh green energy annually, offsetting more than 320,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and powering 80,000 home across the state.
Four hundred local jobs were created during the solar farm’s two-year construction, with the project delivering a more than AUS$200m (€130m) investment in the state of Queensland.
The Blue Grass Solar Farm leverages advanced technology including 375,000 bifacial solar panels and half-cut cells, enhancing performance and efficiency to help decrease the cost of solar and support Australia’s 2050 net zero ambitions.
The project’s construction and grid connection was supported by first-tier renewable and transmission specialists, including Gransolar Group (GRS), Ingeteam and Powerlink.
It received financial backing from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), ING, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), and has established long-term support from first-tier offtakers Salesforce, Stanwell Corporation and Australia’s only 1.5 ℃ electricity retailer, ZEN Energy.
Lluis Noguera, CEO of X-ELIO, said: “Australia is a key strategic market for X-ELIO and our Blue Grass Solar Farm will spearhead our continued expansion along Australia’s East Coast, with additional projects planned for NSW and VIC.”