The Punchs Creek Solar Farm has been given the green light by the Federal Government, which will have a capacity of 800 megawatts (MW).
Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, said the government wants to unlock Australia’s potential to be a world leader in renewable energy.
“I’ve now ticked off 47 renewable energy projects which will power over 3 million homes. And we have a record 134 renewables projects in the approval pipeline. This is an exciting time. As well as lower emissions, it means cheaper, cleaner power for all Australians,” she said.
Located 64km south-west of Toowoomba, the solar farm will be accompanied by a 250MW battery energy storage system and is set to generate enough energy to power 300,000 homes in the region.
The project involves the installation of 1.7 million solar PV panels on previously cleared agricultural land, which will connect to the existing Powerlink transmission line.
This development marks a significant step in the Government’s plan to transform Australia into a renewable energy superpower.
The Punchs Creek Solar Farm project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1,438,883 tonnes per annum. This is equivalent to taking around 450,000 passenger cars off the road for a year.
In addition to boosting renewables, projects like this are also beneficial for local jobs and economies. The construction phase of this project will support up to 340 direct jobs, with up to 10 ongoing operational jobs.
For more renewable and solar news, subscribe to ecogeneration.