Amazon-backed solar farm powers up in Queensland’s Western Downs

The 125MW Amazon Solar Project, formerly known as the Wandoan Solar Farm, has completed commissioning in the Western Downs region of Queensland.

Part of the larger giga-scale Wandoan South Project being developed by Singaporean independent power producer Vena Energy, the Amazon Solar Project – Wandoan began construction in May 2022 and was announced as operational in February.

The project is expected to generate electricity equivalent to the needs of more than 60,000 Australian homes each year, with Amazon signed up as the main long-term energy off-taker for the project.

For Amazon – which has a target to source 100 per cent of its energy supply from renewables by 2025 – its first Queensland renewables PPA adds to contracts with two operational solar farms in Suntop and Gunnedah in New South Wales, a wind farm in Hawkesdale in Victoria, and three rooftop solar projects on Amazon facilities in Melbourne and Sydney.

The Wandoan solar farm was developed in partnership with GRS, the solar EPC contractor of Spanish solar company Gransolar Group, and built by Gransolar Construction Australia, supported more than 200 jobs.

“The construction of this project has… hosted a diverse workforce from across the state, including the direct involvement of the local community, accounting for more than 30% of the total workforce during the initial phase of the construction program,” said Owen Sela, head of Australia at Vena Energy.

“The local services accounted for more than 15% of the Project’s awarded contracts. We hope to continue to engage closely with the local and regional community as we endeavour to expand on the Wandoan South Project in the near future.”

Consisting of over 250,000 solar photovoltaic panels and solar trackers supplied by Spanish company PV Hardware, the project is built across 500ha of the Wandoan South Project site which will eventually consist of 650MW worth of solar and 450MW of battery storage. The first 100MW/150MWh stage of the battery has been in operation since August 2022, as Queensland’s first grid-scale battery.

“We are extremely proud to have participated with Vena Energy in this project, a new milestone in the green transition being undertaken in Australia, which is especially remarkable in Queensland,” said José Miguel Plaza, country manager of Gransolar in Australia.

“With the commercial operation of the Amazon Solar Project Australia – Wandoan, GRS has successfully commissioned 1GW across ten large projects in the country, with 900MW under operation, 1GW of projects under development, and 900MW under construction that will be in operation in 2024.

“GRS is fully committed and actively contributing to support Australia’s Renewable Energy Target.”