Renewable power developer RES lately introduced Columboola Photo voltaic Farm in Queensland has reached full era output.
Located roughly 10 kilometres north-east of Miles in Queensland’s Western Downs area, Columboola Photo voltaic Farm is a 162 MW(ac)/202.5 MW(dc) clear energy station comprised of 417,000 bifacial photo voltaic panels that make use of sunshine hitting each module faces, and 39 SMA Medium Voltage Energy Stations.
It was initially deliberate the photo voltaic farm would ship its first electrical energy era to the grid in Q3 2021 and ramp as much as full industrial operation by Q1 2022. However no plan survives contact with the enemy actual world it appears on the subject of many of those massive PV initiatives; significantly over the previous couple of years. However higher late than by no means.
Given the delays, little doubt RES was significantly happy to hit this stage.
“Full era is among the closing items within the development puzzle, and we look ahead to graduating Columboola into ongoing operations with our asset administration group within the new 12 months,” said RES (AU) final week.
The corporate mentioned Columboola Photo voltaic Farm will provide the equal of 100,000 houses (said elsewhere as 75,000), roughly 6% of all houses in Queensland. With output an anticipated 440,000 MWh yearly, it’s most likely nearer to the 75,000 mark. As for the share of houses, it’s assumed that refers to stand-alone dwellings. Nonetheless, Columboola Photo voltaic Farm’s contribution to scrub power in Queensland can be vital.
Columboola Powering QLD Universities
Queensland Authorities owned and operated CS Vitality has dibs on 100% of the photo voltaic farm’s renewable power era for the primary 10 years of its operation, which can be bought to massive electrical energy prospects together with Griffith College, CQUniversity and Queensland College of Expertise.
Commenting on the association early final month, Griffith College Chief Working Officer Peter Bryant mentioned Columboola Photo voltaic Farm will present equal to 50 per cent of the college’s electrical energy wants. And with the college consuming round 60 million kilowatt hours yearly that contributes to roughly 70 per cent of its whole carbon footprint, provide from Columboola will give Griffith’s emission discount efforts a significant enhance.
“This can assist us be a extra sustainable college by lowering the quantity of greenhouse gases we produce from electrical energy,” Mr Bryant mentioned. “It’ll additionally assist us obtain our dedication of halving our 2010 emissions by 2030 after which to internet zero emissions by 2050.”
UK-headquartered RES is energetic in 11 international locations. The agency says it has delivered greater than 23GW of renewable power initiatives globally, and helps an operational asset portfolio exceeding 10GW. Past onshore/ offshore wind and solar energy, its actions additionally embody power storage and transmission and distribution.
RES arrange store in Australia again in 2004 and has a bunch of wind and photo voltaic initiatives right here both working, underneath development or in any other case within the pipeline. Amongst others we’ve lately talked about on SolarQuotes is the Watta Wella Photo voltaic Farm and Watta Wella Battery Vitality Storage Facility, which can be a 400MW / 1200MWh BESS mission.
