Photon Energy commissions 14.6MWp of Aussie solar

Solar farm panels with sun behind them (Photon Energy)

Dutch company Photon Energy NV has commissioned its first utility-scale solar farms in Australia, bringing online 14.6MWp of new capacity across two plants, according to Renewables Now.

The Leeton and Fivebough solar farms are expected to produce 27.8 GWh of power per year, feeding into the grid of government-owned network operator Essential Energy as non-scheduled generators.

Photon Energy Australia managing director Michael Gartner said the two solar farms were the largest projects to be added to the company’s portfolio to date and its first merchant projects.

“We thank the Leeton Shire Council for their support to make these projects possible and are proud to be adding to Australia’s arsenal of reliable, clean and competitive fleet of solar power generation supplying a region which has significant power demands,” he said.

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“We will participate directly in the … NEM and with single-axis tracking technology we will be able to optimise power generation to take advantage of market opportunities with the flexibility of adding energy storage in the future.”

The company does not rule out making power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other hedging options in the future, it said.

Photon Energy developed the projects in-house with one of its Australian subsidiaries building the plants on an EPC basis, while another Photon unit will take care of the operations and maintenance services at both sites.

Leeton and Fivebough have raised Photon’s installed capacity in Australia to a total of 14.7MWp with its global PV portfolio now at a combined 89.3MWp.

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