Australia’s biggest solar project is still waiting for PV module deliveries

Australia’s largest solar project – the 460MW Western Downs facility in southern Queensland – is expected to be completed on schedule, despite concerns about the timing of the delivery of its solar modules

The facility, the first stage of Neoen Australia’s planned renewable energy hub that may also feature a big battery, will feature around 1.45 million solar panels, but there has been speculation in the market that the project would be affected by the global bottlenecks in supply, and that deliveries could be delayed.

Neoen has downplayed those concerns, but chairman and CEO Xavier Barbaro acknowledged this week that there had been a problem, but he was now confident the remaining panels would be delivered as expected and the project would be completed, more or less on schedule, either late this year or early next year.

Asked about the issue on a call with analysts last Thursday (Paris time), Barbaro said:

“For Western Downs, the modules have not all arrived on site. A good part has arrived, and we have also received confirmation that the part that is not yet in Australia has left China, and … there is just a remaining few percent the producer which is not confirmed yet.

“But I think that the problem is behind us, from the documents that we have seen which are pretty serious ones.”

Supply problems caused by the shortage of materials and Covid lockdowns, particularly in China, have impacted a range of industries, from cars to industrial goods and energy, and the industry is facing rising costs – at least in the short term – and long delivery times for new orders.

“It’s not always easy to have your turbines and modules and inverters and batteries etc,” Barbaro said. “I think that we are doing a good job. Some projects may have to start later than expected.”

Neoen has more than 5GW of projects operating and under construction, and is aiming for more than 10GW by 2025.

In Australia it is currently building Western Downs, which is already operating up to a capacity of around 90MW, as well as the 157MW Kaban wind farm in north Queensland, the 412MW first wind stage of the Goyder project in South Australia, and the 100MW/200MWh Capital big battery in Canberra.

See also: “We make good money for a great service:” Big batteries boost Neoen profits and outlook