News

Two projects located close together in the Gladstone Regional Council in Queensland have been opened for public comment under the EPBC Act by the federal DCCEEW within days of each other.

UK-headquartered United Green is proposing the 696 MW Eurimbula Solar Farm to be developed on six adjacent land parcels covering an area of 1280.9ha, approximately 7.5km north-east of Bororen town.

As well as the approximately 696 MW solar array, the project will also feature a 33/275kV substation, grid connection via existing 275kV transmission lines, and a 666 MW / 1332 MWh Battery Energy Storage System.

Most of the land where the proposed development will occur has been modified as a result of clearing for agricultural activities, primarily cattle grazing.

The project is a new iteration of the proposed 300 MW Rodds Bay Solar Farm, which United Green acquired a majority interest in from Renew Estate in 2020.

Rodds Bay was granted planning approval from Gladstone Regional Council, including approval to develop an 82 MW / 164 MWh battery on site, in 2018.

The project also passed the required tests relating to system strength and generator performance standards and signed a connection agreement with Powerlink in January 2020. However until now the Rodds Bay project has remained dormant.

The nominated developer for the Eurimbula Solar Farm, Eurimbula ProjectCo, is a special purpose vehicle set up specifically for the project.

United Green has no other renewable energy projects in Australia, however it has worked across the global renewable energy sector for over 14 years with projects in the UK, US and EU.

Around 15km south of the Eurimbula Solar Farm site Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners is planning the Miriam Vale Renewable Energy Hub.

Located approximately 6km south-west of Miriam Vale, the project includes a 527 MW DC solar farm and 200 MW / 400 MWh Battery Energy Storage System, with potential to later extend to 8 hours storage, plus associated substation and switchyard infrastructure.

The NEXtracker NX Horizon was used by the developer as indicative of the tracking technology to be used during construction, but “the final tracker supplier and model will be selected during financial close and the selection of the principal EPC contractor”.

An internal substation will connect to the 275kVA Calliope River-Gin Gin transmission line, which runs north-south across the eastern lots of the 1082.25ha project area.

The disturbance footprint of the proposed project is 926ha.

Nominated developer Private Energy Partners is a subsidiary of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners Pty Ltd.