Solar Farm With 900 MW Potential Changes Hands

• Origin Energy has acquired Yarrabee Solar Farm in NSW's Riverina district from Reach Solar and PwC Australia
• Under phase I, the project is expected to install 450 MW solar power capacity
• It can host up to 900 MW capacity in all thanks to the planning approval granted by NSW government

Australian electricity and gas supplier Origin Energy has purchased Yarrabee Solar Farm that has a potential to host up to 900 MW capacity as it makes efforts to reduce emissions from its generation portfolio.

The project in Riverina district of New South Wales (NSW) was originally co-developed by Reach Solar Energy and PwC Australia. Under phase I, the project is expected to install 450 MW capacity, however as per the planning approval granted to the facility by the local authorities, it can be scaled up to 900 MW (see New South Wales Approves 900 MW Solar Farm).

Origin Energy is targeting solar power development in the region in line with its aim to lower emissions from its generation portfolio. It targets multi-GW projects to grow this capacity either through developing greenfield sites or acquiring advanced pre-construction renewable projects.

"Our teams will now focus on progressing development activities prior to a final investment decision targeted over the next couple of years, subject to upgrades to the Transgrid transmission network," stated Origin Energy's Executive General Manager Energy Supply and Operations, Greg Jarvis.

The transgrid transmission network, as Origin points out, falls under NSW's South-West Renewable Energy Zone for which the state government has received interest exceeding 34 GW renewable energy capacity (see Over 34 GW For NSW's South-West REZ).