After a five-year journey, Gannawarra Solar Farm has been two thirds commissioned and will soon be sending clean energy into the grid at full production. The project, at 60MW DC / 50MW AC, is the first large-scale solar farm in Victoria, and will also be home to one of two ‘big batteries’ planned for the state. There was a formal opening ceremony on 12 June 2018.
Solar Choice’s founder and managing director Angus Gemmell was the originating developer of the Gannawarra Solar Farm, having secured the site and planning approval in 2013, subsequently working closely with Edify Energy to clear land matters such as pre-construction conditions, EPBC approvals and fulfilments of indigenous heritage duty of care. Solar Choice remains actively engaged on further stages across additional land within the wider Gannawarra site. Wirsol is the majority owner of the Gannawarra Solar Farm with Edify Energy.
The Tesla battery will also be co-owned by Edify Energy and Wirsol, will be leased to and operated by EnergyAustralia, and will be co-located with the Gannawarra Solar Farm. It will have a total output capacity of 25MW and storage capacity of 50 megawatt-hours (MWh). The addition of the battery bank will make this the first combined solar & battery plant in the state, and one of the largest globally.
Time lapse video of Gannawarra Solar Farm’s construction
Serendipitously, the delivery of the batteries for the storage facility arrived the same day as commissioning – which meant a fantastic photo opportunity for those in attendance.
Gallery: Gannawarra Solar Farm is commissioned
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