Speak to the team
28 Jun 2017 | 1 min read
Ingenious Infrastructure is delighted to announce that our joint venture partnership with Australian solar developer, Stellata Energy (Stellata), has successfully secured planning permission for a 120MW large-scale solar PV farm in Merredin, Australia, the largest solar PV farm in Western Australia.
The granting of planning firmly cements Stellata as one of the leading solar developers in Western Australia. The news swiftly follows the recent announcement of the launch of the partnership. The partnership has committed to funding a pipeline of solar farms across the country, with a value in excess of AUD $200 million.
The Merredin Solar Farm spans 400 hectares in Western Australia’s central Wheatbelt and, once developed, is expected to generate an annual output of 260GWh of electricity, powering around 42,000 houses per annum and delivering clean energy into the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
With construction scheduled to commence in the first half of 2018 and target for commissioning in Q1 2019, the project, which has a projected 30 year life, will be the largest solar farm to have received planning permission in Western Australia. The project is also the only grid connected solar farm to include planning approval for batteries and is designed to be battery ready.
The construction and operational phases of the Merredin Solar Farm will provide local employment opportunities and stimulus to local businesses, with an expected 200 people working on site during the construction period and further permanent and temporary staff to be employed during ongoing operations and maintenance.
Commenting on the venture, Troy Santen, Director, Stellata said: “Securing planning permission for the Merredin Solar Farm is another breakthrough for Stellata and Ingenious as we continue our efforts to bring large-scale solar energy to Western Australia. The Merredin Solar Farm will bring clean energy to thousands of homes across the Perth area, as well as the creation of hundreds of jobs in local communities. We look forward to replicating this achievement across our pipeline of solar projects.”
