Construction starts on massive solar farm that will feed green hydrogen project

Construction has started on one of the biggest solar farms in Australia, the 480 MW Aldoga solar project that will help power a green hydrogen project being developed by Queensland utility Stanwell Corp.

The Aldoga solar project is located around 20 kms north west of the Gladstone coal and LNG export hub in central Queensland, and is regarded as the biggest solar project to date that will provide all its output for a green hydrogen facility in Australia.

The output is destined for Stanwell’s Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2), one of the most advanced green hydrogen projects in Australia. It will serve that customer “behind the meter”.

The Queensland government announced on Tuesday that construction has started at the project, which will include 820,000 solar panels and will be the first to use locally manufactured torque tubing – made with BlueScope coil – that form part of the solar trackers made by Nextracker.

“With Queensland built components and 350 local tradespeople involved in construction and commissioning, the Aldoga solar farm truly will be a product of the Sunshine State,” state energy minister Mick de Brenni said.

“Projects like the Aldoga Solar Farm are helping to build our nation’s energy independence, one panel at a time.”

Queensland currently has the lowest share of renewables of any state in Australia – 28 per cent in the past 12 months – but it has a target of 80 per cent renewables by 2035, and currently has more renewable energy projects approved and under construction than any other state.

Another major solar facility at Bulli Creek, also has an MoU to supply power to another green hydrogen project at Gibson Island near Brisbane, but is currently in limbo as it awaits a final investment decision on the hydrogen component by Fortescue Metals. The MoU is for a 375 MW component of the solar project, which could double in size to 750 MW if other customers are found.

Aldoga is being built by Spanish energy company Acciona Energia, which is also building the country’s biggest wind project, the 923 MW MacIntyre wind farm, where a new transmission line, along with 165 new towers, has just been completed, paving the way for first generation later this year.

Acciona says the Aldoga solar project will cost $500 million, offer $150 million in local procurement opportunities and deliver up to 350 jobs during construction and up to 10 ongoing full-time roles.

A community benefits program will provide $120,000 in annual funding to local initiatives. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-2026, and operate for 30 years.

“Our focus in Queensland is to keep building new electricity generation and creating new jobs within the state,” Acciona managing director Brett Wickham said in a statement.

“Projects like Aldoga will help transition our energy system while providing the employment, training and procurement opportunities regional communities are asking for so they can take advantage of this booming industry.”

CQ-H2 is Queensland’s largest renewable hydrogen project, which aims to deliver renewable hydrogen through different carriers to Japan and Singapore, as well as supplying large domestic customers in Central Queensland.

Steel manufacturer Orrcon, a subsidiary of Bluescope, recently opened a production line facility in Northgate, will manufacturer Queensland steel to be used in the construction of the solar farm.