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US photovoltaic (PV) specialist First Solar has begun construction on one of the first utility-scale solar projects in Australia, a 10MW development located around 50km south of Geraldton, Western Australia (WA).
Construction on the facility is expected take place over nine months with the first PV modules installed in March 2012 and operation expected to begin in the second half of the year. State-owned utility Verve Energy and General Electric Energy Financial Services each own 50 per cent of the Greenough River Solar Farm with the government of WA providing A$20 ($20.5m) to support the project.
Jack Curtis, vice president of business development and sales for First Solar, said, 'First Solar aims to maximise local hiring and enable the project to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to regional communities. We are also building our in-country supply chain network by procuring as many materials as possible from local suppliers at all stages of the construction process. Increased localisation is critical to the development of a sustainable large-scale solar industry in Australia. Developing a local capability to install utility-scale solar projects, together with stable government policy, will greatly improve the industry's long-term outlook.'
Michael Librizzi, general manager of Midwest for WBHO Civil, a local contractor working on the development, added, 'This is an exciting project for the Midwest and we are very proud to be working with First Solar, who has a reputation for the delivery of world class renewable energy projects internationally. The project mitigates harm to the environment and is a sustainable energy resource, and this fits perfectly with our internal mantra of being an environmentally-friendly corporate citizen.'
