Sunshine Coast Solar Farm Fully Operational Soon

Sunshine Coast Solar Farm | Image: Trina Solar

The 15 megawatt Sunshine Coast Solar Farm in Valdora, Queensland, powered by Trina Solar panels, is on track to be fully operational within the next couple of months.

According to Sunshine Coast Council, the project will enable it to become Australia’s first local government body to offset more than 100 percent of its electricity consumption with renewable energy across all its facilities and operations.

Downer was awarded the contract to design, construct, operated and maintain the facility and chose Trina Solar to supply solar panels for the project – 57,000 Duomax PEG14 315 W modules. SMA inverters are also being used at the facility.

“It is our great pleasure to once again work with Downer to deliver a milestone for the Australian utility industry – the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm is one of the first projects to be delivered at the 1500V rating system,” said Helena Li, President, Asia Pacific and Middle East, Trina Solar . “We are proud to have played a part in helping the region transition into a clean energy economy.”

The facility will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 5,000 homes and is expected to save the Sunshine Coast Council up to $22 million based on today’s electricity prices and after costs over its 30 year service life.

Originally announced in 2013, the PV-based project has been constructed on 24 hectares of a 49 hectare site adjacent to an existing 33kV transmission line capable of receiving the solar farm’s output.

Council’s project page states the peak of the construction phase has seen 60-100 employees on the site on any one day.

Situated on the state’s south east coast, north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast not only benefits from significant solar energy resources, but also a Council that walks the talk on renewables and encourages the uptake of home solar power systems.

In addition to providing clean electricity, it’s Council’s hope to use the solar power station as leverage in developing a ‘Clean Tech’ hub in the region.

As well as the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm, Downer is also currently constructing the 100MW Clare Solar Farm (Queensland) and 240MW Ararat Wind Farm (Victoria). Earlier this month the company announced it had been awarded the Ross River Solar Farm (Queensland) contract.

“When the Ross River Solar Farm is completed, Downer will have facilitated the delivery of more than 2.3GW of renewable energy to the Australian market,” said Downer Chief Executive Officer Grant Fenn.