TWO companies planning to build one of Australia’s largest commercial solar electricity plants near Kerang are still confident that the project will proceed despite being rejected for Federal funding.
Solar Choice and Edify Energy have gained a Gannawarra Shire Council planning permit to develop a massive 300-megawatt plant on farm land near Sandhill Lake.
However, they missed out on valuable funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency [ARENA] which has announced grants totalling $91.7 million for 12 projects in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.
The Kerang project was one of 22 “high merit” projects from an initial 77 applicants to make ARENA’s funding short-list.
“We remain committed to the project and are doing all we can to make it a reality,” Edify Energy chief executive, John Cole said yesterday.
Mr Cole said that while another Edify Energy and Solar Choice joint venture in north Queensland received funding, the companies were disappointed that the Gannawarra Solar Farm was unsuccessful.
Edify Energy has lodged a submission with the Victorian Government in relation to the execution of their renewable energy targets for 2020 and 2025 and their proposed 20 per cent allocation to large scale solar.
Solar Choice managing director, Angus Gemmell said hearing the funding announcement was a “body blow” but the company was moving ahead, including with negotiations to secure a power purchase agreement to sell electricity from the plant.
“The project’s been a long time in the works, for well over three years now,” Mr Gemmell said.
“It’s disappointing, but we are making the most of our project’s readiness to still push forward and still make it happen and hopefully, still be able to move into construction early next year.”
