Energy Queensland, through Ergon Energy Retail, has entered a 12-year agreement with the Lilyvale Solar Farm in Central Queensland to secure additional energy for the state.
Queensland Minister for Energy, Mark Bailey, said the Power Purchase Agreement with Lilyvale Solar Farm secured an additional 100MW of renewable energy for regional Queenslanders.
The Lilyvale Solar Farm is being established by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Services Australia (FRV Australia) approximately 50km North-East of Emerald.
“This project will create around 200 jobs during construction, which will begin later this year and will power approximately 45,000 homes,” Mr Bailey said.
“We are taking a planned and measured approach to increasing the level of renewable energy in our energy mix which is leading to investment and jobs, particularly in regional Queensland – while maintaining affordability for consumers.”
FRV Managing Director, Cameron Garnsworthy, said the company was looking forward to be working with the Queensland Government.
“This agreement will deliver a significant new source of clean energy to business and residential customers,” Mr Garnsworthy said.
Queensland Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said Ergon Energy Retail had also signed a Power Purchase Agreement for the 170MW Mount Emerald Wind Farm, as well as sugar mills and a range of other renewable energy generators.
“More than a billion dollars of renewable energy projects are in the pipeline for Queensland. Once built, these projects will effectively double the state’s large-scale renewable energy capacity,” Mr Pitt said.
“Energy Queensland will continue to investigate additional renewable energy generation projects to contribute to our target of 50 per cent of energy coming from renewable sources by 2030.”
