Largest Australian solar farm opens in Western Australia
11 Oct 2012
Australia's first utility-scale solar farm today opened for business near Geraldton in Western Australia (WA)'s mid west region.
The 10-megawatt (MW) capacity Greenough River Solar Farm, which is the country's biggest solar photovoltaic project incorporating 150,000 panels, was officially opened today.
The project, extending across 50 hectares of farmland about 50km south-east of Geraldton, saw a timely completion in 12 months and on budget.
Energy produced by the farm would be purchased by the Water Corporation to help offset the energy requirement of its Southern Seawater Desalination Plant, near Binningup to the south of the state.
According to water minister Bill Marmion, the farm comes as a major boost for WA's renewable energy sector.
According to regional development minister Brendon Grylls, the state government had provided $20 million towards the $50 million project, which included a $10 million investment from the Royalties for Regions program, with the balance contributed by joint venture partners Verve Energy and GE Energy Financial Services.
