Global renewable utility-scale projects developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Snowy Hydro for the Goonumbla Solar Farm in Australia.
The PPA is for the 67.8MW AC production of the Goonumbla Solar Farm project, which will be developed in the state New South Wales (NSW) and located approximately 280km North West of Sydney.
The solar power plant will have the capacity to generate nearly 195,000MWh of clean energy per year, which will be sufficient to power more than 45,000 homes and also eliminate 140,000t of carbon dioxide per year.
FRV CEO Daniel Sagi-Vela said: “With this agreement, we want to continue leading the production of renewable energy in Australia, a country that is showing a great commitment to boost renewable energy projects.
“The Goonumbla Solar Farm will enable us to develop our expansion plans in the country while contributing to a more sustainable future in Australia.”
Construction of the solar farm is expected to begin in April next year and will be operational in June 2020.
During the construction phase, the project is expected to create 150 employment opportunities in the region and up to five permanent jobs once the plant commences its operations.
Snowy Hydro’s CEO Paul Broad said: “Snowy Hydro’s Renewable Energy Procurement Program was massively oversubscribed. More than 17,600MW of projects were submitted through the competitive process and 888MW across eight contracts were signed.
“Snowy Hydro selected those projects that offered competitive pricing and had credible pathways to commissioning in the next few years, and enabled Snowy Hydro to construct an optimal portfolio of renewable offtakes.”
The PPA signed for the Goonumbla Solar Farm in Australia is reported to be FRV’s sixth solar project. It also has agreements in place for Winton Solar Farm (85MWAC) in Victoria, Royalla (20MWAC) in the Australian Capital Territory, Moree (56MW AC) in NSW and Clare (100MWAC) and Lilyvale (100MW AC) in Queensland.
