Bungala solar project achieves several clean energy firsts

Solar panel array under blue sky (chinese solar)
Image: Shutterstock

Australia has taken a step forward in improving its reliance on clean energy following the financial close of the first of two phases of the 300MW Bungala solar photovoltaic project.

The project, located near Port Augusta in South Australia, is one of several proposed for the state and will be the first to begin construction.

Further, it will be among the first large-scale solar farms to participate in Australia’s frequency control and ancillary services market using inverter technology to provide voltage control for the grid.

Once fully operational, the project will generate enough energy for approximately 130,000 homes and assist the grid with ancillary services.

Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has been engaged by the EPC contractor Green Light Contractors to provide design services for phases one and two of the solar farm.

These phases of the Bungala Solar Project form part of a number of large-scale solar farms to be built in Australia in 2018.

Next year, six large-scale solar farms in Queensland, five in New South Wales and one in Western Australia are set to be contructed.

Aurecon technical director for energy Loni Karabesinis said the project was being fast-tracked.

“We will be able to see the tangible results within a short amount of time, with the first electricity to be supplied to the grid by the first quarter of next year, with 220MW being fully operational by the third quarter 2018,” Mr Karabesinis said.

Origin Energy has signed an agreement to buy all of the renewable power from the plant, putting the company on track to meet its commitment to build or contract between 1000MW and 1500MW of large-scale renewable energy by 2020.

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