Green light for solar

The federal government will provide more than three quarters of a billion dollars to help build two of the largest solar power stations in the world.

Solar Dawn in Chinchilla, Queensland, and Moree Solar Farm in Moree, New South Wales, have been selected as the two successful consortiums to build the power plants under Round 1 of the Australian Government’s $1.5 billion Solar Flagships program.

The Gillard Labor Government will contribute $464 million for the project in Chinchilla worth an estimated $1.2 billion and $306.5 million towards the project in Moree worth an estimated $923 million.

Together, the projects are expected to generate enough power to support the electricity needs of more than 115,000 Australian homes per year.

The Solar Dawn consortium, led by Areva Solar, will build a 250 MW solar thermal gas hybrid power plant near Chinchilla. Solar Dawn will be one of the largest power plants of its kind in the world as well as one of the most environmentally responsible. At least 85% of Solar Dawn’s power generation will be entirely emissions free. During construction, Solar Dawn estimates the project will generate $570 million in economic activity in the region and create 300 jobs on average.

The Moree Solar Farm consortium, led by BP Solar, will build a 150 MW photovoltaic power plant near Moree. This is nearly twice the size of any photovoltaic power plant operating in the world today. It is estimated that the project will create on average around 300 jobs during construction.

Work will commence next year and the plants are expected to be completed and commissioned by the end of 2015.