Victoria’s Karadoc Solar Farm Officially Opened

Image: Flow Power

Karadoc Solar Farm was officially opened last week, while not far away its sister project at Yatpool is under construction.

Situated on a 664 acre site 35 kilometres south of Mildura in Victoria’s appropriately named Sunraysia region, Karadoc Solar Farm is a 112MW facility comprised of 330,000 solar panels mounted on trackers that enable the panels to follow the sun throughout the day. Karadoc will generate enough energy to supply the equivalent electricity required by 65,000 homes.

The project was delivered by German renewables developer BayWa r.e. and local construction partner Beon Energy Solutions.

Carlton United Breweries (CUB) will be supplied with 74,000 MWh of electricity per year from Karadoc through a 12-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

“We have a history stretching back 180 years, but if we want to be around for another 180 years, we need to create a sustainable world and a sustainable business,” stated Kirsten Sturzaker, CUB’s Sustainability Manager. “This partnership powers our company in a sustainable way while reducing our power costs and securing our supply for the long-term.”

Additionally, Flow Power has entered into a ten-year offtake agreement with BayWa r.e for 20MW of power from the facility.

“Karadoc was delivered on time and on budget in under 12 months and made a major contribution to the local economy,” said Benedikt Ortmann, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH. ” The power supplied to CUB and Flow Power is now helping Australian business transition to renewables.”

300 jobs were created during Karadoc’s construction. As part of the project, Beon Energy Solutions partnered with SuniTAFE to develop what it says was an industry-first solar traineeship where 25 participants studying Certificate II in Electrotechnology participated were employed in the construction of the facility.

Karadoc Solar Farm began exporting electricity to the grid in November last year and reached full generation in December.

Yatpool Solar Farm Progressing

BayWa r.e. and Beon have started construction on Karadoc’s sister solar farm, Yatpool, which is located around 20 kilometres away from Karadoc.

Expected to be completed late this year, the 106MW solar facility will take BayWa r.e’s projected renewable energy portfolio in Australia close to 240 MW, achieved in just two years since entering the local market. Its other Australian project is the 20 MW Hughenden solar farm in north-west Queensland.

Flow Power has inked a ten-year deal for 28MW of Yatpool’s capacity. Between Karadoc and Yatpool, this will bring its total announced offtake close to 300MW according to the company. Flow Power has set a goal of sourcing 100% of its purchased electricity from renewables by 2025.