PCL Construction Scores Stubbo Solar Farm EPC

There’s been more progress on ACEN Australia’s huge Stubbo Solar project in New South Wales, with the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract now awarded.

Stubbo Solar will be a 400 MW PV power station situated around 10 kilometres north of Gulgong in the Mid-Western Regional Council local government area. The project may also incorporate a 200 MWh battery system down the track, with approval for energy storage already in place.

ACEN Australia says Stubbo Solar will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 185,000 average Australian homes.

The project received the State Government’s blessing back in 2021 and ACEN Australia made a final investment decision to pursue it in November 2022; when a notice to proceed with road works to the site was also issued to Council.

Another piece of the project’s puzzle is now firmly in place, with the announcement yesterday PCL Construction has been awarded the EPC contract.

“We are pleased to have reached this next milestone in bringing the Stubbo Solar project to life,” stated Sech Zabaleta, chief development officer for ACEN. “It is a critical part of ACEN’s goal of reaching 20GW of renewable energy by 2030, but importantly, Stubbo Solar will contribute to NSW’s energy security and Australia’s transition to a clean energy future.”

Construction of main project works is expected to start this year. Up to 400 jobs will be created during Stubbo Solar’s construction phase and up to 10 ongoing jobs; with a focus on creating local contracting opportunities. All going well, the solar farm will be operational in 2025.

Headquartered in Edmonton, Canada, PCL Construction delivers solar energy solutions in Australia and the USA as well as in its home country. PCL will also manage ongoing operation and maintenance services in Stubbo Solar’s first two years of operations.

“Stubbo Solar will be another example of our team’s expertise and will showcase our commitment to delivering success for our clients, while exceeding their expectations,” said Gopi Govindraj, PCL Construction’s country manager.

Cashed Up To Crank Clean Energy In AU

Late last week, ACEN Australia parent ACEN¹ announced it had inked a syndicated green term loan facility with major international banks for its renewable energy projects here worth a total of AU$277 million.

ACEN Australia has a bunch of other big clean energy projects under construction or in the pipeline aside from Stubbo. Among others are:

• New England Solar: 720 MW (near Uralla, NSW)
• New England Battery: 50 MW/50 MWh (near Uralla, NSW)
• Valley of the Winds projects: 800 MW ( NSW New England and Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zones)
• Jim’s Plain Wind: Up to 200 MW wind and up to 40 MW solar capacity (near Smithton, Tasmania)
• Robbins Island Wind: Up to 900 MW wind (north-west Tasmania)

The 720 MW New England Solar project is being developed in two stages; with the first stage 400 MW. In late December last year stage 1 was given the go-ahead to send power into the National Electricity Market (NEM) by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).