ACT gives planning approval for 13MW solar project

The ACT government says it has provided planning approval for a 13MW solar PV plant to be built as part of its goal to reach 90 per cent renewable energy by 2020.

The approval for the Mugga Lane project to be built by China’s Zhenfa came after the project was one of the winning bids in the recent reverse auction for solar projects.

Two days ago, the first project to be built under the auction process, the 20MW Royalla solar farm, was formally opened (pictured). A third project, the 7MW One Sun Capital project, is facing objections from local residents near the village of Uriarra. An auction for 200MW of wind energy projects also closed on Wednesday.

ACT Minister for the Environment Simon Corbell said the Mugga Lane project will be connected to the nearby Gilmore substation through an underground connection, and will include half a megawatt of innovative tracking panels which will increase electricity output by following the sun over the course of the day.

“The Mugga Lane solar farm and the newly opened Royalla solar farm are set to deliver large-scale renewable energy at an affordable price,” Corbell said.

Both companies were granted guaranteed feed in tariffs through the ACT Solar Auction for a 20 year period. Corbell said cost to Canberra residents of achieving 90% renewable energy is expected to peak at about $4 per household per week in 2020 before declining.

This will be offset by savings of about $4 per household per week from energy efficiency programs put in place by the government.