19/05/2016 05:01 AST
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), a leading global developer of large-scale solar power plants and part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services has signed a second power purchase agreement (PPA) with Origin Energy Limited (Origin), covering 100 percent of the electricity output of FRV's 100MW Clare Solar Farm.
The solar farm will be located outside the township of Clare, near Ayr in Queensland. Upon completion, the 300-hectare solar farm will be the highest generating polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) project in Australia and will utilize a single-axis tracking system to maximize energy generation during the day. The plant will generate enough green electricity to supply approximately 45,000 average Australian homes, while the annual greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be reduced by approximately 181,000 tons of CO2. Globally, FRV has successfully developed approximately 500MW of solar plants using similar technology to that proposed for the Clare project.
FRV CEO Rafael Benjumea said "we are very pleased to have expanded our working relationship with Origin and look forward to delivering a new source of large-scale solar energy to its customers. This transaction demonstrates the market's confidence in FRV's ability and experience in developing, constructing and operating high quality, reliable solar projects and further cements our position as a market leader in large-scale solar in Australia."
FRV was acquired by Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services (a division of Abdul Latif Jameel International DMCC) in April 2015, following the successful joint venture partnership announced between the two companies in January 2014. The acquisition resulted in Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services' 100% ownership of FRV. Clare Solar Farm is FRV's second large-scale solar project to obtain an offtake agreement, with Origin also agreeing to purchase 100 percent of the electricity output of its 56MW Moree Solar Farm in northern New South Wales. It is expected to create up to 200 job opportunities during construction and up to five jobs during operation, and to bring investment to the area, while delivering additional, indirect economic opportunities to local businesses.
FRV has had a presence in Australia since 2010 and is a major contributor to the growth of the Australian renewables sector. It is actively pursuing the expansion of its presence and its solar project development pipeline (1,000MW under development) in the country.
The company also developed the first grid connected project-financed solar farm in Australia, the Royalla Solar Farm, which was completed under an innovative government-led reverse auction program launched by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The 50-hectare Solar Farm was the first to be developed in the ACT, providing power for 4,500 homes. Earlier this year, FRV sold the project to Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), an independent fund management company.
In addition to the Clare Solar Farm, the company recently received planning approval for two other large-scale solar farms located near the townships of Tieri and Baralaba, both in the State of Queensland. The three projects could deliver a combined generating capacity of around 300MWac when completed.
Australia is a promising market for renewables, offering some of the highest solar irradiation levels in the world, which encourages the emergence of competitive large-scale solar PV projects.
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