First Solar begins building 250 ha solar plant

First Solar has commenced construction on a 250 ha solar plant in Nyngan, NSW - the largest utility-scale solar project in Australia. Financial close for the project was achieved by AGL Energy less than six months ago.

First Solar will install approximately 1,350,000 thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules for the project, which will generate clean, renewable energy with no emissions, waste or water consumption during operation. The company is also providing engineering and procurement services and will provide maintenance services for a period of five years post commissioning.

“Each project that First Solar constructs builds acceptance of and confidence in utility-scale solar as an effective source of power generation in Australia,” said Jack Curtis, First Solar’s Vice President of Business Development for Asia Pacific.

Curtis said the company looks forward to seeing the impact of the Nyngan project. It will produce 102 MW - enough electricity to power more than 33,000 average NSW homes - and abate more than 203,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. Additionally, First Solar expects to create an estimated 300 direct construction jobs during the building of the plant. In total, the project is expected to add nearly 2% to the gross regional product of the community.

The Nyngan solar plant is expected to be completed in mid-2015. Construction will commence on a second site, located in Broken Hill, NSW, in mid-2014, with completion scheduled for around November 2015.

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