Western Downs Green Power Hub

Western Downs Green Power Hub
Map
CountryAustralia
Location22km southeast of Chinchilla, Queensland
Coordinates26°57′18″S 150°40′37″E / 26.955°S 150.677°E / -26.955; 150.677
StatusOperational
Construction beganJune 2020
Construction cost$600 million[1]
OwnerNeoen
Operator
Solar farm
TypeFlat-panel PV
Collectors1,000,000
Site area1,500 hectares (3,700 acres)
Power generation
Nameplate capacity400 MW
External links
Websitehttps://westerndownsgreenpowerhub.com.au/
[edit on Wikidata]

The Western Downs Green Power Hub is a large solar farm at the Kogan Creek Power Station near Chinchilla in Queensland, Australia. The photovoltaic solar power station uses one million solar panels to generate 400 megawatts of power.[2] It utilizes 72-cell bi-facial solar modules on single-axis trackers; a system that tracks the sun throughout the day.[3] It was the largest solar farm in Australia for some time.[3]

The 1,500 hectare solar farm is owned and operated by Neoen. The state government-owned renewable energy operator CleanCo has signed an agreement to purchase 80% of the project's capacity.[2]

Construction began in June 2020.[1] The solar farm was built by Sterling & Wilson.[1] Exports to the grid had begun by August 2022.[4] The final solar panel was installed on 1 May 2023.[5] The event was attended by state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.[5]

The hub will also contain a 200MW/400MWh big battery. Construction of the battery had begun by January 2023.[6] The PV station and battery, along with two other batteries, are connected to the national grid via the Western Downs substation and a new 275 kilovolt line constructed by Powerlink Queensland.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Western Downs Green Power Hub, Queensland". Power Technology. Verdict Media. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Carroll, David (6 April 2023). "Final panel installed as Australia's largest solar farm nears full capacity". pv magazine. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Western Downs Green Power Hub". NS Energy. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  4. ^ Carroll, David (22 August 2022). "Australia's largest solar farm begins exporting to grid". pv magazine. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Final solar panel installed". Western Downs Green Power Hub. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Battery Update: 2023". Western Downs Green Power Hub. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  7. ^ R., Luwela (5 April 2023). "Construction of the 400MW Western Downs Green Power Hub completed". Australian Resources. Digital Media News. Retrieved 8 May 2023.