Victoria’s Largest Solar Farm Up And Running
02 August 2019
Victoria’s largest
solar farm is now
fully operational and powering
Melbourne’s tram network, thanks to
support from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
today official opened
Neoen’s 128 megawatt (MW)
Numurkah Solar Farm,
which received funding under the Labor Government’s Solar Trams
Initiative.
The Numurkah Solar Farm is one of two solar farms supplying 100 per cent
renewable energy to offset Melbourne’s entire tram network.
The facility will generate approximately 255,000 megawatt hours of
clean, renewable electricity into the national power grid each year.
The Renewable Certificate Purchasing Initiative and Solar Trams
Initiative have brought forward construction of around 350 MW of new
solar and wind capacity – leveraging around $720 million in capital
expenditure and creating 755 construction jobs and 33 ongoing jobs, all
in regional Victoria.
With the initial support secured from the Government, Neoen has secured
a 15-year deal with SIMEC ZEN to help power the Laverton Steelworks,
taking the initial project size from 34 MW to 128 MW DC/100 MW AC.
The emissions reduction delivered by this solar farm will be the
equivalent of taking 75,000 cars off the road or planting 390,000 trees.
The Labor Government is increasing Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target to
50 per cent by 2030 – putting more clean energy into the grid,
increasing investment and driving down energy prices.
It is expected that achieving the VRET 2025 target of 40 per cent alone
will drive around $7.2 billion of investment and create more than 10,000
jobs, as we boost the amount of energy generated by renewable sources.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and
Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio
“This is Victoria’s largest solar farm – we’re proud to have supported a
project that has delivered hundreds of jobs in regional Victoria.”
“The Numurkah Solar Farm will play an important role in supporting the
transformation of our energy system towards clean, renewable energy and
reaching our renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Public Transport Melissa
Horne
“Victoria’s largest solar farm is now ready to power the world’s biggest
tram network – helping reduce greenhouse emissions and boost jobs in
regional Victoria.”
Quote attributable to Neoen Australia Managing Director Louis de
Sambucy
“The Numurkah Solar Farm is a significant milestone for Neoen, one that
could not have been achieved without the support of the
Victorian
Government. As the biggest solar farm in Victoria, it will deliver
enormous benefit as it powers transport, industry and more.”
--ENDS--
Source: Victorian Government - www.premier.vic.gov.au
Contact: N/A
External Links: N/A
Recent news by: Victorian Government