125MW Glenrowan Solar Farm VIC to be owned and built by CIMIC Group
CIMIC Group companies Pacific Partnerships and UGL will be developing and building the Glenrowan Solar Farm in northern Victoria following the acquisition of development rights for the renewable energy project.
Pacific Partnership will develop, invest in and manage the solar farm through its energy business, Pacific Partnership Energy, while UGL will undertake its construction, operations and maintenance.
The Glenrowan Solar Farm is the first large-scale solar farm to be owned and developed by CIMIC Group as principal.
“CIMIC is committed to supporting Australia’s energy transition, and is pursuing large-scale renewable generation, storage and generation assets.
“Pacific Partnerships is actively driving our strategic expansion into the emissions free, renewable energy sector,” CIMIC Group Executive Chairman Juan Santamaria said.
The development rights for the solar farm were purchased from Australian renewable energy developer and asset manager ESCO Pacific. In addition, grid connection and services agreements have been signed with Victorian transmission network operator AusNet Services and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
“The acquisition of the development rights to Glenrowan Solar Farm is part of our strategy to establish a diversified portfolio of energy and utilities assets within the National Electricity Market,” Pacific Partnerships Managing Director Simon Nicholls said.
UGL is already delivering early works on the project – including design, procurement and construction planning.
The 125MW Glenrowan Solar Farm will occupy about 245 hectares of land and it is proposed to be connected to the nearby Glenrowan Terminal Substation.
AusNet Services and its construction partners will own as well as undertake the design, construction and operation of a new five-kilometre 33kV transmission line that runs from the Glenrowan Solar Farm to the Glenrowan Terminal Station. The company will also install a new 120MVA transformer at the terminal station.
Detailed design for the transmission line is already underway, with construction anticipated to commence later this year.
“We are proud to be supporting Victoria’s transition to renewable energy. We are supporting local jobs and delivering this project with local partners Wilson Transformer Company and PowerNet Construction to drive a more sustainable future for Victoria,” AusNet Chief Development Officer Chad Hymas said.
The Glenrowan Solar Farm is expected to be up and running by the end of 2023, generating enough independent renewable electricity to power up to 45,000 Australian homes.
Source: CIMIC Group; UGL; AusNet; Global Construction Review; Manufacturers’ Monthly; Energy Magazine
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