Contractor selected for Victoria solar-battery project
Recurrent Energy has announced the appointment of GRS, the EPC contractor of Spanish renewables company Gransolar, to construct its 171MW Carwarp solar farm along with an accompanying battery system. This development is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the electricity grid in north-west Victoria.
The new solar farm will utilise bifacial solar modules, capable of generating power from both sides of the panels. Additionally, the 120MW battery, whose duration details have not been disclosed yet, will be integrated with the solar farm. The project has reached financial close and secured a contractor, with plans to connect to the Ausnet terminal station at Carwarp through a 6.7 km 220 kV overhead line.
Location and Timeline
Situated 35 km south of Mildura in Victoria, the Carwarp solar farm is scheduled to commence operations in 2026. The project’s funding is being facilitated by ANZ, Westpac, and Société Générale’s Sydney branch through a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a multinational corporate entity.
Impact and Statements
Gransolar Group Australia’s managing director, Jose Miguel Plaza Pardo, expressed pride in spearheading this initiative, highlighting its dual benefits of reducing carbon emissions and driving economic growth through job creation in the region. Plaza Pardo credited the success of the project to the dedication and hard work of the entire GRS team, underscoring the company’s proven track record in Australia.
This project marks GRS’ fourteenth venture in Australia, elevating the total capacity of the company’s local projects to 2.1 gigawatts (GW). Originally slated to commence construction in 2019 with a launch date in 2020, the Carwarp solar project faced delays due to challenges posed by the region’s inadequate grid infrastructure, which struggled to accommodate the influx of new renewable energy projects.
However, significant progress has been made through grid enhancements and the implementation of local storage solutions. Recent grid ratings issued by the market operator indicate improved marginal loss factors for solar projects in the area, promising enhanced credit for their power contributions to the grid.
