Glenrowan Solar Farm Construction Gets Cranking

Victoria’s Andrews Government has announced construction of Glenrowan Solar Farm in the state’s north-east has commenced.

The project was the first to score a guernsey under the second Victorian Renewable Energy Target Auction (VRET2).

“Victoria’s historic VRET2 auction is helping to supply all Victorian Government operations with 100 per cent clean renewable electricity by 2025 – and it will attract billions of dollars of investment into regional Victoria,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.

Glenrowan Solar Farm is a 130 MWdc/102 MWac PV project located approximately 2 kilometres south-west of Glenrowan, which is around 230 kilometres north-east of Melbourne. The site is located within  Victoria’s Central North Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and was chosen for its flat, already cleared land and proximity to an existing transmission line.

Site work preparations began in January, with site facility completion and the first deliveries of piles for construction occurring last month. In late February, piling works commenced. It’s expected this work, which involves approximately 10 rigs driving around 35,000 piles, will take approximately three months to complete. Vegetation screens will be planted in March and April around the perimeter of the solar farm, and native species will be used.

It’s anticipated 150 direct full-time equivalent jobs will be created during construction and four ongoing full-time equivalent jobs once the clean power station is operation. The facility is being developed by CIMIC Group company Pacific Partnerships, which acquired development rights for Glenrowan Solar Farm from ESCO Pacific in late 2021.

According to the project web site, electricity generation is expected to commence at the end of this year. Electricity generated will be sold to the Victorian Government under a long-term contract.

Other VRET2 Projects

Six projects have been funded under VRET2 involving a total of 623 MW of new renewable generation capacity, and up to 365 MW and 600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of new battery energy storage. The other projects are:

• Derby Solar Project (95 MW with 85 MW/100 MWh storage), south-east of Bridgewater on Loddon.
• Fulham Solar Farm & DC Coupled Battery (80 MW with 80 MW/100 MWh storage), west of Fulham.
• Kiamal Solar Farm – Stage 2 (150 MW with 150 MW/300 MWh storage), north of Ouyen.
• Frasers Solar Farm (77 MW), north of Traralgon.
• Horsham Solar Farm (118.8 MW with 50 MW/100 MWh storage), east of Horsham.

Projects under VRET2 are expected to support 920 direct jobs and generate $1.48 billion of investment.

Under VRET1, 5 projects were delivered involving 800 MW of new renewable capacity. These were:

• Berrybank Wind Farm (180 MW), west of Geelong.
• Cohuna Solar Farm (34 MW), east of Kerang.
• Dundonnell Wind Farm (336 MW), north-east of Warrnambool.
• Mortlake South Wind Farm (158 MW), south of Mortlake.
• Winton Solar Farm (99 MW), east of Benalla.

As well as supporting the Victorian Government’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable electricity consumption for its operations by 2025, these projects will also make a major contribution to Victoria’s renewable energy targets of 40% by 2025 and 50% by 2030; plus put downward pressure on electricity prices.