Cohuna Solar Farm
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Project Update Week ending 23 August 2019 Lightsource BP to begin construction on first Australian solar project in 2019 12 August Lightsource BP, a global industry leader in solar First foundation concrete pour development, is pleased to announce that construction will begin on the company’s first for Granville Harbour Wind Australian project in the coming months. The Farm project was acquired fully permitted from First 16 August Solar. Construction crews onsite at Granville Harbour Wind Farm have successfully The Wellington Solar Farm, at Goolma Road, completed the first concrete pour for one of Wuuluman, New South Wales, will have an the site’s 31 wind turbine foundations. Each installed capacity of 174MWac, producing excavated foundation – big enough to hold an 420,000MWh of clean, renewable electricity a entire MONA ferry – requires over 100 year. The installation will generate enough concrete truck loads to fill the 20-metre energy to power approximately 70,000 homes, diameter base. and will provide a carbon emissions saving of 336,000 tonnes, which is the equivalent of Remaining turbine foundations will be taking around 121,500 cars off the road. completed over the coming months in preparation for the installation of latest A wide range of surveys and assessments technology Vestas wind turbine generators on were undertaken during the development of 137 metre-high towers. the solar farm, covering flooding, fire risk, biodiversity management, traffic planning, Granville Harbour Wind Farm Project Director, noise and visual impact, cultural heritage Lyndon Frearson, said that the successful first management and more. foundation pour was a key achievement for the project: Adam Pegg, Country Manager for Australia at Lightsource BP, commented: “Solar is one of “An enormous amount of preparatory work the fastest growing sources of energy has been done to get the wind farm site to worldwide, and at Lightsource BP we’re proud this point. We have started construction for to be accelerating the low-carbon transition 25km of access roads, built drainage and across the globe. Installations like the environmental controls, installed operations Wellington Solar Farm are a crucial part of buildings and completed significant meeting the dual challenge – generating more excavation works for our wind turbine electricity while reducing the amount of foundations. carbon emissions created.” “Our 200-strong construction crews onsite Source: Lightsource BP have logged over 350,000 man-hours so far, Page 1 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) and have done so with zero Lost Time Injuries, Landmark sustainable power which is also a significant achievement. “Over the coming months we expect to see purchase agreement more visible signs of progress, with the 19 August delivery of wind turbine blades and towers to Molycop, incorporating Comsteel, has site starting in mid September, and the first announced the signing of a long-term Power wind turbines to be installed shortly Purchase Agreement (PPA) with energy afterwards.” retailer, Flow Power. Mr Frearson said the remote site had some This agreement runs until 31 December 2030 unique challenges, but overall the wind farm and is backed by offtake agreements with the construction was progressing well: Bomen Solar Farm and the Sapphire Wind “This winter’s unrelenting weather conditions Farm, both located in regional NSW. have slowed some activities down, but we are pushing on and are still on track for the wind The Bomen Solar Farm is currently under farm to generate its first energy by the end of construction and is expected to be fully the year.” operational in the 2nd quarter 2020 while the Sapphire Wind Farm has been in full “We are extremely grateful for the support operation since November 2018. we’ve received from the local community and look forward to continuing to work closely Under the PPA, Molycop’s expected offtake of with Council and local authorities throughout renewable energy is 100,000 MWh per year the project,” said Mr Frearson. which covers more than half of its electricity consumption in NSW. This will make Molycop Other achievements at the site include: one of the largest purchasers of renewable • Installation of the transmission line poles energy in Australia. over 90% complete. • Construction of the wind farm’s switchyard. During its 100 years of operation Molycop has • Delivery of an 85-tonne transformer to ‘step played an important role in economic and up’ the clean energy generated onsite ready social development in many of the countries to be fed into the electricity grid. in which it operates. In Australia, Molycop manufactures and supplies high quality The construction of Granville Harbour Wind products and services to the mining and rail Farm is set to deliver a significant economic transport industries. Molycop’s entry into this boost to the region with approximately $3.8 PPA represents a new chapter in this million direct investment in the West Coast tradition, reflecting its support for the and around $16 million investment across renewable energy investment that has been Tasmania. The project will provide around 200 made in regional NSW. jobs during the construction period – including 125 jobs for Tasmanians – and Michael Parker, President Molycop around 10 permanent operational roles once Australasia, said “This agreement is an the wind farm is complete. important milestone for Molycop. It not only provides strong support to Australia’s pipeline Source: Granville Harbour Wind Farm of renewable energy infrastructure projects that will also benefit the wider community.” Many of Molycop’s customers have a strong focus on building sustainable and responsible operations. This focus and expectation also extend into their supply chains to their suppliers. By entering this long-term agreement Molycop is supporting the Page 2 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) transition to renewable energy which will also AER approves ElectraNet substantially reduce the carbon emissions associated with the generation of electricity. spending on South Australia system strength “From a sustainability standpoint, Molycop is 20 August not only supporting two important renewable South Australia will enjoy a more stable energy projects, but we are further enhancing electricity system after the Australian Energy our credentials as a responsible and Regulator (AER) approved ElectraNet’s sustainable organisation. We already utilise proposal to install four synchronous 95% recycled feed for our steelmaking condensers. process, material that would otherwise be exported, and we are offering customers an The AER estimates ElectraNet will incur $166 expanding range of recycling services” said Mr million in efficient capital costs to deliver the Parker. project, slightly lower than ElectraNet initially proposed. Molycop chose to partner with Flow Power due to their offer of both wind and solar The decision comes after the Australian offtakes and access to the ARENA Demand Energy Market Operator (AEMO) declared a Response program, as well as their energy system strength gap in South Australia in sourcing and forecasting expertise. October 2017, and identified the installation of synchronous condensers in South Australia Matthew van der Linden, Managing Director as a priority project in its 2018 Integrated Flow Power, said “Flow Power is proud to be System Plan. Currently, AEMO directs working with Molycop to unlock value from synchronous generators to be online when their energy sourcing. It’s fantastic to see required in order to maintain system stability, Molycop take the next step on their energy costing South Australian consumers more journey. By combining renewable offtake and than a million dollars per month through demand response, our unique model will compensation payments to these generators. future-proof energy needs while supporting the changing energy system”. “Consumers pay for network investments for years to come and it is our job to ensure they Source: Molycop Australia pay no more than they need. But investment is required to maintain safe and secure supply. PROJECT NEWS Mannum Solar Farm “This investment will help strengthen the On behalf of project owner Canadian Solar, electricity system in South Australia, and Tetris Energy has applied for state reduce the amount South Australian government development approvals for the consumers are required to pay as a result of proposed 25 MW Mannum Solar Farm Stage market directions,” said AER chair Paula 2, adding to 4.95 MW already under Conboy. construction, plus option for 4 MW battery in South Australia. The project, on land in the The AER’s decision allows ElectraNet to vicinity of the Mannum Substation, is recover an additional $32 million from its proposed to be developed in two stages, transmission customers over the next three firstly 4.95 MW AC and then a second stage of years. The AER estimates this decision on 25 MW AC. The first 4.95 MW received transmission charges will increase average Development Consent from the Mid-Murray annual bills for residential customers by up to Council and an Offer to Connect from SAPN. It $8 per year by 2022-23, or up to $36 per year is currently under construction and is for small business customers. expected to be completed by Q3 2019. Page 3 (Click on relevant project links to go to online Project Database) However, ElectraNet has estimated that the the University’s Sustainability Plan which four synchronous condensers will help