Nyngan Solar Plant now generating energy

AGL Energy’s Nyngan Solar Plant, located in in western NSW, has begun feeding renewable energy into the National Electricity Market. The $290 million, 250 ha plant is part of the AGL Solar Project, which will see new solar plants constructed in Nyngan and Broken Hill with a combined generation capacity of up to 155 MW.

One section of the plant, consisting of around 350,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, is currently producing up to 25 MW of electricity. The remaining three sections will be commissioned over the next three months, with the plant eventually capable of outputting 102 MW - enough to power 33,000 homes per year.

“First generation represents a great achievement for all the project stakeholders,” said AGL Group General Manager Merchant Energy Anthony Fowler. “It has required close coordination between local electricity distributor Essential Energy, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), project partner First Solar and AGL to facilitate this successful milestone.”

The AGL solar project is supported by $166.7 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and $64.9 million from the NSW Government. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the project will “make similar plants more competitive in Australia by helping to break down financial, regulatory and technical barriers”.

The Nyngan project has provided economic benefits for the community, with more than 250 people employed on-site during the peak of construction. Businesses in Nyngan and the wider Orana region have also benefited from local procurement and contracts associated with the project’s construction.

“In addition to creating jobs, boosting skills and contributing to local communities, the development of utility-scale solar is vital to a diverse energy future,” Frischknecht said.