Bouygues Construction Australia and Equans Solar & Storage Australia, have started construction works on the Muswellbrook Solar Farm, utility-scale solar photovoltaic plant combined with a battery energy storage system project, located in New South Wales.
Developed by OX2, an international renewable energy company, the project combines a 135 MW (megawatt) solar farm with a 100 MW Battery Energy Storage System. Built on the site of a rehabilitated former coal mine near the town of Muswellbrook, the facility is expected to generate approximately 347 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity annually – enough to supply tens of thousands of Australian households.
The solar farm will cover 482 hectares and include approximately 300,000 photovoltaic panels. Commissioning is scheduled for 2028, with an expected operational life of 40 years. At peak construction, the project will employ up to 200 people and contribute to local economic development. Bouygues Construction Australia and Equans Solar and Storage Australia are delivering the project under an engineering, procurement and construction contract, a turnkey agreement under which OX2 entrusts them with full responsibility for the project through to the delivery of a fully operational facility.
“The launch of the Muswellbrook Solar Farm reflects Bouygues Construction’s commitment to developing low-carbon infrastructure and supporting the global energy transition. Delivered for OX2, this landmark project will contribute to expanding renewable energy capacity within the Australian power network,” said Seved Robin, Chief Executive Officer at Bouygues Construction Australia.
“The Muswellbrook Hybrid project is a perfect fit for Equans Solar & Storage’s strategy and will be fundamental to cementing our future in Australia where most upcoming projects will be hybrid schemes. Our proven track record of delivering large-scale photovoltaic plants put us in a strong position to execute the scope smoothly. The project is equally important for our customer, OX2, who is counting on us to successfully deliver their first Independent Power Producer project in Australia,” said Elisabeth Benedetto, Director at Equans Solar & Storage.
With this new project, Bouygues Construction and Equans continue to strengthen their expertise and footprint in Australia.
Simultaneous commissioning of the Culcairn and Goorambat East solar farms in Australia Bouygues Construction and Equans have recently delivered the Culcairn Solar Farm in New South Wales, developed for Neoen. With a capacity of 440 MW, the project is the largest solar farm ever delivered by the Group. Built by a joint venture between Bouygues Construction Australia and Equans Solar & Storage Australia, the facility includes 760,000 solar panels and will generate enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 160,000 Australian households.
The Goorambat East solar farm, located in the state of Victoria, covers nearly 630 hectares and has a capacity of up to 250 MW. Bouygues Construction Australia, Equans Solar and Storage Australia and their partners have tested the use of autonomous robots for the installation of photovoltaic panels at the site. The trial demonstrated the potential of these solutions to accelerate the deployment of large-scale solar infrastructure.
