The Wyalong solar farm, located in the Riverina area of New South Wales, has officially opened and started injecting electricity into the grid. The 75MW solar farm is operated by Greek renewables firm Mytillneos and features around 127,000 solar panels spread over a 260-hectare area. It is expected to generate enough electricity to power 27,000 Australian homes at full capacity.
However, the majority of the solar farm’s output has been contracted to Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) under a power purchase agreement. The NBN is set to take approximately 90GWh of electricity each year, accounting for around 62% of the expected output. This off-take agreement is part of NBN Co’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable purchases by December 2025.
In addition to the renewable energy benefits, the Wyalong solar farm is also creating local jobs and contributing to the local community and economy. The CEO of NBN Co, Stephen Rue, highlighted the positive impact of the solar farm on job creation and emphasized its alignment with the company’s renewable energy goals.
The opening of the Wyalong solar farm is a significant step towards NBN Co’s target and commitment to renewable energy. In May of this year, the company also announced long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. The 10-year power purchase agreement with the Wyalong solar farm is the first of many planned agreements by NBN Co.
Overall, the Wyalong solar farm represents a significant milestone in Australia’s renewable energy transition and demonstrates the strong collaboration between the renewable energy sector and the telecommunications industry.
Sources:
– Renew Economy
– The Driven