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| Gannawarra Solar Farm | |
|---|---|
| Name | Gannawarra Solar Farm |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Kerang, Victoria |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction started | 2017 |
| Commissioned | 2018 |
| Owner | Edify Energy and Wirsol (original); now Wirsol/Edify/FRV consortium |
| Operator | Wirsol Energy |
| Solar type | Photovoltaic |
| Capacity mw | 50 |
| Site area ha | 100 |
Gannawarra Solar Farm Gannawarra Solar Farm is a photovoltaic power station near Kerang in Victoria, Australia, forming part of regional renewable energy projects linked to the Murray River basin and Victorian transmission infrastructure. The facility contributes to national and state-level renewable energy targets associated with the Renewable Energy Target, Australian Energy Market Operator, and Victorian Renewable Energy Target policies.
The project is situated near Kerang, adjacent to the Gannawarra Shire and within the Murray-Darling Basin catchment, and integrates with the Australian Energy Market Operator grid via connections near the Kerang substation, aligning with initiatives by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The site features single-axis tracking photovoltaic arrays supplied by international manufacturers and complements nearby projects such as the Cohuna Solar Farm and the Kerang wind proposals, supporting Victoria's energy transition alongside entities like AGL Energy, Origin Energy, and Hydro Tasmania.
Planning and approvals involved local government interactions with Gannawarra Shire Council and state-level regulators including the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, with development milestones coordinated by Edify Energy and Wirsol Energy and financing discussions involving the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Export Finance Australia agency. Construction commenced after agreements with landholders and grid connection studies with Powercor and AusNet Services, following precedent transactions in the Australian renewable sector such as the Hornsdale Power Reserve and the Snowy 2.0 consultations, and was completed to permit commissioning in 2018 under oversight by engineering contractors and project managers with experience from projects led by First Solar, Siemens Gamesa, and Vestas.
The farm uses crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules mounted on single-axis trackers, engineered by suppliers with manufacturing pedigrees that include First Solar, JinkoSolar, and Trina Solar, and incorporates inverters and balance-of-plant equipment from companies akin to SMA Solar Technology and ABB. Electrical design adheres to standards demonstrated in projects by the Australian Energy Market Operator and standards bodies such as Standards Australia, with civil and electrical works coordinated with contractors experienced on sites like the Royalla Solar Farm and the Darlington Point Solar Farm, employing SCADA systems similar to those used by Tesla, GE Renewable Energy, and Siemens for operations monitoring.
Rated at approximately 50 MW AC, the array yields annual generation estimates based on irradiance data from the Bureau of Meteorology and capacity factors comparable to regional installations like the Nyngan Solar Plant and the Moree Solar Farm, delivering dispatchable daytime output integrated into the National Electricity Market alongside synchronous and battery projects such as the Hornsdale Power Reserve and the Gannawarra Battery Storage facility. Performance metrics are monitored against benchmarks set by the Clean Energy Council and grid performance monitored by the Australian Energy Market Operator and AusNet Services.
Originally developed by Edify Energy in partnership with Wirsol, financing structures involved institutional participation similar to transactions by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and debt arrangements modeled on precedents involving Macquarie Group, ANZ, and the Export Finance Australia, with equity investors and offtake arrangements negotiated with corporate buyers and retailers comparable to EnergyAustralia and Snowy Hydro. Operational management reflects joint-venture governance structures commonly seen in renewable projects backed by Iberdrola, EDF Renewables, and Engie.
Environmental assessments addressed native vegetation, threatened species considerations under the Department of Environment and Energy frameworks, and water use in the Murray-Darling Basin, with mitigation measures inspired by guidelines from the Commonwealth Department and conservation groups such as the Australian Conservation Foundation and Trust for Nature. Community engagement involved partnerships with Gannawarra Shire Council, local landholders, and regional stakeholders, supporting local employment and complementing community solar and apprenticeship programs akin to those promoted by the Clean Energy Council and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
The project has been noted in industry briefings and case studies alongside projects lauded by the Clean Energy Council, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and engineering accolades similar to awards conferred by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia and Engineers Australia for contributions to Victoria's renewable energy portfolio.
Category:Solar power stations in Victoria (state) Category:Renewable energy in Australia