Global solar leader adds Longreach to their portfolio

Queensland is taking another step to becoming Australia’s solar state with the commissioning of Canadian Solar’s $29 million Longreach solar farm.

Representing Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham at the project inauguration event at Longreach, Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting, welcomed this investment from Canadian Solar - one of the world’s large solar panel manufacturers.

“The Longreach solar farm is being progressively commissioned and is operating at 50 per cent capacity exporting 7 megawatts of power into the Ergon Energy grid.

“When fully operational it will power around 5000 homes.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Solar150 program is now paying dividends with Canadian Solar’s project being one of the first commissioned to come online to the national electricity market.

“The Solar150 program was designed to help kick-start the State’s solar investment boom by providing long-term revenue certainty giving proponents including Canadian Solar a 20-year revenue guarantee.

“The Longreach Solar Farm will be followed by the initial 25-megawatt stage of Canadian Solar’s 80-megawatt Oakey solar farm which is due to be running and grid-connected by September. This is another dividend of the State’s Solar 150 program.”

Canadian Solar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dr Shawn Qu said the Longreach project would be followed by the commercial operation of the two-stage Oakey Solar Farm with the first stage expected for completion in August 2018.

“Canadian Solar is looking forward to further contributing to the growth of solar energy in Queensland off the back of the great success we have already seen in our solar projects, like the Longreach solar farm and the Oakey 80-megawatt solar farm.” Dr Qu said.

Mr Whiting said Canadian Solar was making a major investment and contribution to the State’s solar boom.

There are 56 large-scale solar projects currently in the approvals or construction process in Queensland.

Media contact: David Potter 0428 411 617