Released 25/07/2017
The extension of Canberra’s ‘solar highway’ will add 36,000 solar panels to Canberra’s renewable infrastructure and enough electricity to power around 3,000 homes, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury announced today.
“I am pleased to announce the extension of the ACT’s ‘solar highway’, with the completion of the Williamsdale Solar Farm today. The facility will generate 21,900 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity each year, enough to power around 3,000 Canberra homes,” said Minister Rattenbury.
A trip down the ‘solar highway’, from Majura Parkway in Canberra’s north to the Monaro Highway in the south, will now take visitors past four solar farms: the Mt Majura Solar Farm, the Mugga Lane Solar Park, the Royalla Solar Farm and the Williamsdale Solar Farm.
“Canberra is already making great progress tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and this large-scale solar project will substantially boost our ability to realise our ambitious vision of a clean energy future.”
The ACT has world leading commitments which will see it produce 100% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2020, and to producing zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest.
As the owner of the Williamsdale facility, Impact Investment Group has agreed to make the farm available to researchers and students.
“Now home to some of Australia’s newest and most innovative solar technology, facilities like Williamsdale will be a great asset for renewable energy researchers and students from the ANU, University of Canberra and CIT to continue their crucial research and education,” said Minister Rattenbury.
Commenting on the new facility, Impact Investment Group’s Head of Renewable Energy Infrastructure, Lane Crockett, said: “As well as producing clean energy, the Williamsdale Solar Farm will help us deliver attractive financial returns, showing that people can align their investments with their values”.
The completion of the Williamsdale Solar Farm means that all three projects in the ACT’s large-scale solar auction have been completed. The 20MW Royalla Solar Farm was completed in August 2014 and the 13MW Mugga Lane Solar Park was completed in November 2016 and will be launched in coming weeks.
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Shane Rattenbury, MLA | Media Releases
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