FRV signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the project with Snowy Hydro in late 2018

This is the second project of FRV in NSW following Moree Solar Farm operating since March 2016.

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and a leading global developer of renewable utility-scale projects, has successfully completed the construction of the Goonumbla 69.75 MW AC solar farm, in New South Wales.

In 2018 FRV signed a PPA for the Project with Snowy Hydro after being awarded in Snowy’ s Renewable Energy Procurement Program.

FRV has secured financing for the project one year ago. The debt was provided by ING and DZ Bank with ING taking the majority stake in the financing package.

Located approximately 10km west of the town of Parkes and 280km North West of Sydney in New South Wales, the plant is now connected to the national grid and produces approximately 195,000 MWh of clean energy per year. This power output is enough to supply energy to more than 45,000 Australian households and avoid the emission of around 140,000 tons of CO2 annually.

Goonumbla Solar Farm has contributed, and it continues to contribute, to the economic development of the area. Its construction involved the creation of up to 250 jobs, 7 of which are remaining now that the plant is operational.

FRV has developed and secured PPAs for a total of seven solar projects in Australia, operating and committed with an accumulated investment of over US $700 million since 2012: Royalla (20 MW ac) in the Australian Capital Territory, Clare (100 MWac) and Lilyvale (100MW ac) in Queensland, Moree (56 MW ac), Goonumbla (69.75 MWac) and Sebastopol (90MWac) in New South Wales and Winton (85 MWac) in Victoria.

Carlo Frigerio, Managing Director of FRV in Australia, said: “We are glad to successfully deliver this project which is our first PPA with Snowy Hydro. It proves that a consolidated player like FRV is capable to deliver top quality solar farms notwithstanding the increased challenges in the Australian renewable energy market and generally in a moment of global turmoil”.

Fady Jameel, Deputy President & Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, said: “Together with FRV, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy is committed to developing the renewable energy sector and delivering clean energy solutions. We are proud to be part of and witness Australia’s transition to sustainable energy. The completion of the Goonumbla Solar Farm shows the fantastic progress we are making in this vital sector.”

Snowy Hydro’s CEO, Paul Broad, said “We are delighted with the news that FRV has completed construction of its Goonumbla power station and will begin supplying renewable power. As part of the ongoing commitment of Snowy Hydro to supporting the growth of renewables in Australia, we have contracted over 1,000MW of clean, green energy projects, Goonumbla being one of those transactions. To complement the deployment of intermittent renewables technologies into the grid and to help firm them up, we are committed to the development of the 2,000MW pumped storage hydro Snowy 2.0 project which is moving full steam ahead. We look forward to working with FRV on further renewables projects and being able to take this renewable energy and sell it to commercial and industrial customers who are seeking cost effective, long term clean energy contracts”

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), a leading global developer of renewable utility-scale projects, has announced the signing of a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Snowy Hydro, for the production of the 67.8 MW AC of the Goonumbla Solar Farm project that will be developed in the state of South New Wales. The PPA was awarded to FRV within the Snowy Hydro Renewable Energy Procurement Program launched earlier this year and successfully concluded this month.

Located approximately 10km west of the town of Parkes and 280km North West of Sydney in New South Wales, the plant will connect to the national grid, producing approximately 195,000 MWh of clean energy per year. This power output is enough to supply energy more than 45,000 Australian households and avoid the emission of around 140,000 tons of CO2 annually. With an approximate extension of 385 ha, it is expected that construction will begin in April 2019 and will start operations in June 2020.

Its construction and operation will contribute to the economic development of the area, since FRV foresees the creation of up to 150 jobs during the construction phase of the plant, up to 5 of which will remain once it is operational. According to Daniel Sagi-Vela, CEO of FRV, “with this agreement we want to continue leading the production of renewable energy in Australia, a country that is showing a great commitment to boost renewable energy projects.

The Goonumbla Solar Farm will enable us to develop our expansion plans in the country, while contributing to a more sustainable future in Australia”. Carlo Frigerio, FRV Managing Director Australia also added, “We are pleased to be working with Snowy Hydro on this important project contributing to the ongoing diversification of the electricity generation resources in NSW and Australia”. Snowy Hydro’s CEO, Paul Broad, said it was great to sign a solar offtake agreement with FRV for the Goonumbla Solar Farm. “Snowy Hydro’s Renewable Energy Procurement Program was massively oversubscribed.

More than 17,600 megawatts of projects were submitted through the competitive process and 888 megawatts across eight contracts were signed”. “Snowy Hydro selected those projects that offered competitive pricing and had credible pathways to commissioning in the next few years, and enabled Snowy Hydro to construct an optimal portfolio of renewable offtakes”. This is FRV´s sixth project in the country apart from Winton Solar Farm, (85 MW AC) in Victoria, Royalla (20 MW AC) in the Australian Capital Territory, Moree (56 MW AC) in New South Wales and Clare (100 MW AC) and Lilyvale (100MW AC) in Queensland.

FRV lodged its EPBC referral around the same time as lodging the “Material Change of Use” (MCU) planning application for the project. The MCU application was lodged on 8th December 2014 with the Central Highlands Regional Council. It is anticipated that the outcome of the planning application will be known towards the middle of 2015.

FRV lodged its EPBC referral around the same time as lodging the “Material Change of Use” (MCU) planning application for the project. The MCU application was lodged on 8th December 2014 with the Central Highlands Regional Council. It is anticipated that the outcome of the planning application will be known towards the middle of 2015.

The Council has issued its Decision Notice approving the “Material Change of Use” development approval, along with appropriate conditions.

This important decision allows FRV to continue with the development of the project, including obtaining a grid connection agreement and securing an contract for the sale of the electricity. Once all of these things are in place a final investment decision can be made.

FRV is looking forward to working closely with the local community as the development of the project continues.

FRV’s Managing Director, Cameron Garnsworthy, said he was pleased to be working with Ergon on this significant project.

“Using proven, efficient, single axis tracking solar PV technology, Lilyvale Solar Farm will provide Ergon Energy with a significant new source of clean energy for its customers,” he said.

The proposed Lilyvale solar farm received development approval in September 2015 and is expected to move into construction by the third quarter of 2017. Construction is likely to take 12-14 months.

FRV estimates up to 200 workers will be needed to complete Lilyvale Solar Farm’s construction. Up to five ongoing roles will be created once the project is operational.