Queensland’s $175 million 95MW Susan River Solar Farm on the Fraser Coast has come online.
The project uses 290,000 panels to generate electricity, connected to the state’s power grid via a new Ergon Energy substation on the solar farm site.
Susan River has the capacity to easily power about 40,000 homes when it reaches full generation. It will take total operational capacity of renewable energy in Queensland to more than 2000MW.
Minister for Energy Dr Anthony Lynham said Susan River was the 20th renewable generation project to come online in Queensland over the past two years, with another 13 large-scale projects under construction in Queensland totalling.
“These 13 large-scale projects will generate more than 1200 megawatts, boost investment by around $2.5 billion and most importantly create more than 1900 jobs during construction,” Dr Lynham said.
The project pipeline includes Elliot Green Power’s other Queensland renewable project, the 75MW Childers Solar Farm, just 50km away. It also recently completed construction and is the early stages of commissioning.
“Elliot Green Power’s $175 million investment is another demonstration of industry’s confidence in the sector and further evidence that consistent energy policy from this Palaszczuk Government drives generation investment,” Dr Lynham said.
“That’s in stark contrast to what the Morrison Government’s policies are doing to investment in new generation.
“Major Australian energy businesses say they are delaying investment in new generation because of the uncertainty that Morrison Government policies are causing.
“This is new generation that could help drive down electricity prices for Queenslanders.”
Member for Maryborough, Bruce Saunders, said, “Susan River Solar Farm is one of the biggest solar farms to come online in Queensland.
“But what’s been most important to the Fraser Coast is that 80 per cent of the construction workforce came from the local area.
“During construction local quarries, concrete suppliers, surveyors, engineering firms, equipment hire businesses and fuel suppliers all did business with the owners, Elliot Green Power.
“Renewable projects like Susan River Solar Farm are a win-win. They generate clean energy and they generate jobs and business opportunities for the local economy.”
