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Renewable Energy News

TUESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, 2010 |

Utility Scale Solar Farm For Western Australia

by Energy Matters

Speaking at the Energy in WA Conference today, Western Australian Energy Minister Peter Collier and Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls have announced State Government funding to be provided to support the development of a 10 megawatt solar farm in the state.

Managed by Verve Energy and reportedly using BP solar panels, the solar farm will be the first utility-scale solar farm to be brought online in Australia.

Mr. Collier said the facility is expected to be completed within a year and will facilitate the development of larger renewable energy projects in the future.

".. the project is expected to encourage future private investment in solar technology by identifying unintended barriers in existing approvals, regulatory and market processes, so they can be rectified."

While initially capable of a 10MW generating capacity, the solar farm is scalable to 40MW as transmission capacity becomes available and component costs reduced.

Mr Collier said the Government aims to increase investment in renewable energy development in the State and that Western Australia is well-placed to achieve its share of the national target of 20 per cent renewable energy generation by 2020.

The development of the solar farm will be a public-private partnership at a cost of $58million, with the State government contributing $20million, including $10million from the Royalties for Regions fund.

It's been a big day for major solar panel based solar farm announcements in Australia. Earlier this morning, the Victorian Government announced a commitment of $100 million to help construct the Mallee Solar Park project, which will be situated south of Mildura.