Consortium partners BP Solar, Pacific Hydro and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) were announced as the successful recipients of the Solar Flagships photovoltaic (PV) funding allocation. The funding will now enable the construction of the consortium’s proposed Moree Solar Farm, which is slated to commence in mid-2012.

The Solar Dawn consortium, comprising AREVA Solar, CS Energy and Wind Prospect CWP, will receive Flagships funding for the solar thermal project allocation. The Solar Dawn consortium will use this funding to develop a solar thermal-gas hybrid power plant near Chinchilla in southwest Queensland.

The Federal Government will contribute $306.5 million towards the project in Moree, worth an estimated $923 million, and the Solar Dawn consortium will receive $464 million in federal funding for the project in Chinchilla, worth an estimated $1.2 billion.

The Moree Solar Farm The proposal to build the 150 megawatt (MW) Moree Solar Farm in the New South Wales Tablelands can now become a reality; an exciting prospect for the consortium, the Moree community and the NSW solar industry.

“The Moree Solar Farm will pave the way for more utility-scale solar power production in Australia by demonstrating that this proven technology has an important role to play, helping Australia transition to a low carbon emission future,” said Tony Stocken, Australasian Regional Director of BP Solar and a Director of Moree Solar Farm.

When completed, the Moree Solar Farm will comprise of approximately 650,000 PV panels and produce enough power for 45,000 households (or roughly a town the size of Darwin), leading to an annual displacement of 400,000 tonnes of CO2 through generation of renewable electricity.

While the Moree Solar Farm will be the first of its kind in Australia, utility-scale solar PV power stations have been successfully operating in the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Germany, China and other countries for many years, and Australia has a higher level of solar resource than any of these countries.

The town of Moree was chosen for its intense solar resource, one of the best in Australia, and the availability of suitable land closely located near an adequate sub-station to enable connection to the state’s power grid. The Moree Solar Farm brings together three of the world’s leaders in renewable energy, utility-scale project delivery and operation.

Independent power producer FRV is the majority equity holder in the consortium. BP Solar will be acting as the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor for the project, and will retain a minority equity stake in the project. Pacific Hydro, one of Australia’s leading renewable energy businesses, will also be holding a minority share in the project.

In addition to providing a blueprint business model for the roll out of utility-scale solar across Australia, the Moree Solar Farm will provide a significant boost to the local economy creating or sustaining hundreds of jobs during the four year construction phase, with the potential to create many more indirect jobs across Australia.

“The local community has been incredibly supportive of the proposal – welcoming the consortium’s plans from the beginning and providing fantastic feedback which helped with the design of the project,” said Lane Crockett, General Manager of Pacific Hydro Australia and a Moree Solar Farm Director.

“The Moree Plains Shire is extremely excited that Moree has been chosen as the best location for Australia’s first solar power plant of this size,” said Katrina Humphries, Mayor of Moree Plains Shire.

“In recent months,[the Shire] has met with the consortium on many occasions and built great relationships, even friendships.The consortium members have gained the trust of the Moree local community and incorporated the community’s ideas into their final plans. We look forward to continuing this relationship and working closely with them in the future.”

The Solar Dawn Project

The proposed Solar Dawn Project, a 250 MW solar thermal gas hybrid power plant near Chinchilla in south west Queensland, was announced as the successful solar thermal power project in Round 1 of the Solar Flagships Program. The announcement of the funding commitment follows the completion of feasibility and design studies by Solar Dawn consortium members AREVA Solar, CS Energy and Wind Prospect CWP over the past 18 months.

This funding commitment will now allow for project development and contractual processes to be finalised by the end of 2011.

During construction, Solar Dawn estimates the project will generate $570 million in economic activity in the region and create 300 jobs on average.

AREVA Renewables Chief Executive Officer Anil Srivastava, speaking on behalf of the consortium, commended the Australian Government on its vision for a low carbon economy and its investment in developing utility-scale solar power generation.

“The Solar Flagships Program demonstrates the Australian Government’s support for renewable energy. This announcement represents another significant milestone in the creation of a world-class clean energy industry in Australia,” he said.

“Solar Dawn will be an international showcase for the nation, using Australia’s abundant solar resource and AREVA Solar’s Australian-pioneered Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector technology to combine zero-carbon solar energy with a low-emission, gas boiler back-up system to efficiently produce clean, reliable power to meet growing energy demand.

“Once completed, the proposed project will be the largest of its kind and one of the most environmentally-responsible power production plants in the world. Its innovative, yet simple hybrid design will deliver energy as needed, even when the sun isn’t shining.”

The Solar Dawn consortium will work closely with key government, commercial and community stakeholders to finalise all relevant approvals and financing arrangements as well as engineering, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance contracts.