Infigen Energy plans 4 solar plants

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - Australia's Infigen Energy Limited and leading solar technology producer Suntech Power Holdings Company Limited are developing four solar photovoltaic projects with a combined value of $780 million across rural New South Wales, Australia.

The joint venture company, known as Infigin-Suntech Australia Pty Limited, is based in Infigen Energy's head office. In May, Infigen-Suntech was named as one of four short-listed applicants under the Australian federal government's Solar Flagship Program, which is part of the government's Clean Energy Initiative.

Infigen-Suntech is proposing solar photovoltaic projects in Bungendore, Manildra, Nyngan and Moree. Planning applications for the projects were submitted to the New South Wales Department of Planning in July of this year. With minimal environmental concerns and strong government support, it is expected that approvals will be granted with few conditions. Each project is located in the vicinity of an existing 132- or 330-kilovolt grid-connected substation. The contract for construction has been awarded to Tenix Group Pty Limited. The projects will utilize Suntech's Pluto crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar panels.

The most vital of these projects is the Bungendore Capital Solar Farm, which will be adjacent to Infigen Energy's existing Capital Windfarm. The solar farm will share the wind farm's existing substation. With a total investment value TIV of $150 million and an expected output of 50 megawatts MW, the project will also include the construction of a research infrastructure facility.

The Manildra Solar Farm has been identified as the next most vital project. This project has an estimated TIV of $150 million and an expected output of 50 MW. The Manildra project will be located in two areas: Yarran and Ainsdale.

The largest of the developments, the 100-MW Nyngan Solar Farm, has a TIV of $300 million and will have more than 300,000 photovoltaic panels.

The $180 million, 60-MW solar farm planned for Moree will take a back seat to these more vital projects, but it is still being developed.

Each solar farm will have a construction period of 12 months. While it has been confirmed that construction of the Capital Solar Farm will begin in March 2012, the timelines for the remaining projects will be contingent upon the conditions attached to the federal funding from the Solar Flagship Program. If the electricity generated by these projects is considered vital, all except the Moree Solar Farm may be developed simultaneously. If this is not the case, the projects will be developed in order of importance, with a slight overlap in construction.

Although a minimal installed capacity exists at present, solar photovoltaic technology has seen an increased interest from the Australian market recently due to the country's high radiation levels and the Australian government's commitment to a renewable energy target.

Related News

firefighter

California faces huge power cuts as wildfires rage

LOS ANGELES - Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) already faces an investigation by regulators after cutting supplies to 970,000 homes and businesses.

It announced that another 650,000 properties would face precautionary shut-offs.

Wildfires fanned by the strong winds are raging in two parts of the state.

Thousands of residents near the wealthy Brentwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles have been told to evacuate because of a wildfire that began early on Monday.

Further north in Sonoma County, a larger fire has forced 180,000 people from their homes.

California's governor has declared a state-wide emergency.

 

What about the power cuts?

On Monday regulators announced a formal inquiry into whether…

READ MORE
uk-ev-drivers-demand-fairer-vehicle-taxes

UK EV Drivers Demand Fairer Vehicle Taxes

READ MORE

alliant power

Alliant aims for carbon-neutral electricity, says plans will save billions for ratepayers

READ MORE

muskrat falls

Planning for our electricity future should be led by an independent body

READ MORE

Seaspan Reliant

Electricity and water do mix: How electric ships are clearing the air on the B.C. coast

READ MORE