The state-owned Hydro Tasmania says it has signed an off-take arrangement for what will be the first large scale solar farm in the island state, built on the property of the one of the island’s most famous grazing properties.
The deal for the $500 million Northern Midlands solar project, on the Connorville Estates, near Cressy, is a landmark for the island state, which has already achieved 100 per cent net renewables, largely through its considerable hydro resources and a handful of wind projects.
The 288 megawatt (MW) solar project is being built by TasRex, which is bringing in investment manager Birdwood Energy to help the company develop, fund and deliver solar farm.
The agreement for Hydro Tasmania to buy the output of the solar farm – the price has not been disclosed – means that construction can start in 2026 with completion expected in 2027.
“Wind and solar are the fastest, lowest cost way to deliver new energy supply. Hydropower can fill in the gaps when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow,” Hydro Tasmania’s acting CEO Erin van Maanen said in a statement on Sunday.
“This is the best way to deliver a reliable energy system that meets the growing demand for energy and minimises costs to Tasmanian consumers.”
Roderick O’Connor, who runs the Connorville Estates that has been in his family for some 200 years, says the plan is to run around 2,000 sheep through the solar farm section of the property on a rotating basis. They will graze under and between the rows of panels. The farm currently hosts around 22,000 sheep.
“The areas we’ve chosen for the solar farm is quite light country which needs careful grazing, so I’m delighted to be putting a solar farm there,” O’Connor told Renew Economy in December last year, when the project received planning approval.
TasRex CEO Bess Clark described the solar farm as a “transformative project (that) redefines the possibilities for solar energy development in Tasmania”, and would be important step towards Tasmania’s 200% renewable energy target.
“It is exciting to think that this land will soon be generating enough power for 70,000 homes, while still supporting sheep grazing for high quality wool production,” she said.
“The TasRex team, with landowner Roderic O’Connor, has been working hard to realise this ambitious project, engaging closely with surrounding landowners and the local community. That engagement will continue as we progress the project”.
Tasmania’s target of reaching 200 per cent renewables aims to transform itself into the “battery of the nation” with the surplus power to be used for export to the mainland through the proposed sub-sea Marinus Link, or to produce green hydro for industry and export.
TasRex says it has a pipleline of 5 GW of wind and solar projects in Tasmania alone – mostly offshore wind, and a potential upsizing of the Northern Midlands solar project to more than a gigawatt, and is keen to pursue opportunities in green hydrogen production. Clark is a former CEO of Marinus Link.
However, the state has witnessed some blowback on proposed wind projects such as the 900 MW Robbins Island and Jim’s Plains wind projects proposed for the north-west by Acen Renewables have faced fierce local opposition.
This includes from environmentalists led by the Bob Brown Foundation, which is also questioning the economic rationale and the environmental impact of the Marinus Link, even at its scaled down capacity of 750 MW.
Last year, Ark Energy withdrew its proposed 50 MW wind project near Stanley in the face of local opposition. See: “Wrong project, wrong place:” Plans dumped for controversial Tasmania wind farm
Hydro Tasmania says the Midland solar farm, operating at full capacity, it will be Tasmania’s fourth largest generator after Gordon and Poatina hydropower stations, and the Tamar Valley Power Station.
The price and the duration of the off-take agreement has not been released. A potential battery storage addition is also being considered.
