Sustainable energy solutions developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Australia has achieved commercial operation status at its solar farm in Metz, Australia, and it is working at 100% capacity.
The plant has been generating clean energy since March 2022, contributing towards the energy demand and economic development of the local area, while helping to drive Australia’s transition to green energy.
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Located in New South Wales, next to Hillgrove 20km East of Armidale and spanning over 248 hectares, the plant has a net annual energy production capacity of over 300,000MWh with an output of 115MWac—capable of meeting the energy demand of up to 40,000 households.
Forming an important part of FRV Australia’s clean energy portfolio, Metz Solar Farm will further drive FRV Australia’s mission to support the country clean energy mandate. The company has developed almost 800MWdc of Australian operational PV assets across nine projects for a total project investment value of over 1 billion dollars.
Metz Solar Farm project signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Snowy Hydro in 2018 and closed the financing agreement in December 2020 with Westpac and NORD/LB in the form of a Green Loan compliant with the Loan Market Association Green Loan Principles and the Green Projects requirements.
So far, the project has positively impacted the local community, creating more than 100 jobs during construction. Some jobs will also be created during operation to perform asset management and operational maintenance.
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Beon Energy Solutions (Beon) carried out the construction of the project.
“We are delighted to see that Metz Solar Farm is working at its full capacity and generating clean energy. This is the fourth project that the company delivered in NSW and another key milestone for the energy transformation which is ongoing in the country and for the state ahead of the retirement of coal power stations in the coming years,” FRV Australia CEO Carlo Frigerio said.
