162 MW Solar Farm Approved By Queensland Government

• Queensland has approved a 162 MW solar farm proposed by Luminous Energy which will be realized near Miles
• The project is scheduled to enter commercial operations in early 2021 when it will be connected to Powerlink grid
• Another project in Queensland with 121 MW capacity is complete and Chinese module producer Risen Energy says it is now waiting for approval to start grid supply

Australia's State Government of Queensland has announced that the 162 MW Columboola Solar Farm has secured grid connection approval. Now, it can be realized by its target timeline of early 2021. The proposed project is the state's largest solar energy project, stated state Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham.

On completion, it will be connected with Powerlink's existing Columboola Substation which has till now delivered 13 connections for large-scale renewable projects across the state that represent over 1.6 GW potential generation capacity. Construction of the project's transmission assets is due to start by April 2020.

"We are proud to bring this significant supply of clean energy to a major demand centre of the grid. The project will significantly contribute to the Queensland Government's goal of 50% renewable energy by 2030," added Luminous Energy CEO Jolyon Orchard.

Queensland is on the forefront of the solar PV market growth in Australia. "Our state's renewable revolution is full steam ahead with almost 2,400 MW of renewable energy capacity now operating, and another 250 MW underway or committed," informed Lynham. "We already have 30 solar farms, and more than 560,000 Queensland rooves sporting solar systems, with combined generation capacity of more than 4,000 MW."

Back in 2017, a press statement from Luminous Energy mentioned the capacity of the Columboola Solar Farm as 310 MW calling it one of the largest solar stations in the country. With that capacity, it was to generate close to 640,000 MWh of clean power annually.

In June 2019, Acciona Energy of Spain secured approval from the state government for its AUD 400 million 250 MW Aldoga Solar Farm near Gladstone on land the administration will lease to the company for 30 years (see Queensland Approves Acciona's 250 MW Solar Project).

121 MW solar project complete

Local renewable news platform RenewEconomy reported that Risen Energy of China has completed the construction of its 121 MW Yarranlea Solar Farm in Toowoomba, also in Queensland. It has now joined the list of utility scale projects awaiting approval to start sending clean power to the grid. The project uses solar PV trackers from Chinese company Arctech Solar (see 377 MW PV In Australia To Use Arctech Trackers).

Commercial operations of the farm will begin in early 2020, Risen Energy's General Manager for Australia Eric Lee told RenewEconomy.