Construction begins at new solar farm in regional Victoria after sod turning

Enel Green Power says it has begun construction of the 93 MW Girgarre Solar Farm located west of Shepparton in the north of Victoria.

Located approximately 50 kilometres west of Shepparton, the Girgarre Solar Farm will eventually consist of approximately 169,500 solar PV modules.

Construction of the project is expected to take around 18 months and once complete will generate enough electricity equivalent to the needs of 43,000 Victorian households.

The symbolic turning of the “first sod” was shared between local Enel Green Power Australia executives as well as the mayor and councillors of the Campaspe Shire. Also in attendance were representatives from the local Yorta Yorta people.

The Girgarre solar farm project has been jointly developed with Victorian solar power systems developer Lesson Group and Enel Green Power Australia, the local subsidiary of Italian energy giant Enel Group. Enel Green Power acquired the project in full from the Lesson Group in 2019.

Enel Green Power currently operates three solar farms totalling around 310 MW in Australia and is currently building the 76 MW Flat Rocks wind project in Western Australia. Inpex recently bought a 50 per cent stake in Enel Green Power Australia, with a goal to significantly expand its portfolio.

“The Girgarre Solar Farm will be an important part of Victoria’s transition to 95% renewable energy generation by 2035,” said Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s minister for energy and resources.

“It will deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy to our grid once complete and create local jobs and opportunities during its construction.”