THE Nyngan Solar Plant has begun generating power with the first 25 megawatts of 100 per cent-renewable energy feeding into the national electricity market.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The electricity comes from a section of the solar plant which consists of about 350,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules.
Further generation would progressively be brought online across the next three months as the remaining three sections of the plant were individually commissioned.
AGL Group general manager merchant energy Anthony Fowler said it was a significant milestone for Australia's largest utility-scale solar PV plant.
"It has required close co-ordination between local electricity distributor Essential Energy, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), project partner First Solar and AGL to facilitate this successful milestone," he said.
Once completed, the $290 million Nyngan Solar Plant would have a capacity of 102MW.
Environment Minister Rob Stokes said the NSW government was strongly committed to the transition to renewable energy, through projects such as the Nyngan Solar Plant.
"The Baird government wants NSW to lead the nation in clean energy development, and this $64.9 million investment is a strong demonstration of our dedication to that goal," he said.
"There are an estimated 13,000 jobs supported by renewable energy in NSW, mostly in regional areas.
"Renewable energy generation in NSW has doubled over the last decade and has driven $8 billion of investment, predominantly in regional areas.
"The development of projects in regional NSW has the potential to provide traditional farming communities with alternative income streams that are not rainfall dependent."
First Solar's Asia-Pacific regional manager Jack Curtis said the milestone signalled the sector's adoption of utility-scale solar as a meaningful contributor to Australia's generation mix.
"We commend AGL for its first-mover commitment to the sector, with the fantastic support from both ARENA and the NSW government," he said.
Each year the plant would produce enough renewable electricity to supply more than 33,000 homes.
AGL is constructing the Nyngan Solar Plant and the 53MW Broken Hill Solar Plant with $166.7 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and $64.9 million from the NSW government.