Solar farm in Normanton

Covering 7.2 hectares next door to the Ergon Energy power sub-station, the Normanton Solar Farm will provide enough electricity to run the townships of Normanton and Karumba and the immediate surrounds of Normanton.

Developer Doug Scouller, who is partnering with Canadian Solar, which is undertaking the engineering procurement, design, construction and operation activities, said rising electricity costs were the main driver behind the project.

“I can see a need for reducing power losses,” Mr Scouller said. “Increasing power production doesn’t reduce losses but I can see a need for decreasing generation of power because the network suffers so many losses.”

Construction of the five megawatt farm, which got a $8.4 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, started in July.

The work crew has finished installing 5600 screw piers, while construction of kilometres of racking – which hold the solar panels – is expected to be completed this week.

Mr Scouller, an electrician by trade who ran a motel in Karumba for many years, said the installation of 16,000 solar panels had started.

He said the renewable energy model could easily be implemented in other areas of western Queensland where the resource was plentiful.

“This is ideal for western Queensland due to the resources we have,” Mr Scouller said.

“The total value of the project is $14 million and with the ARENA grant we made up the difference.

“The business model stacks up and I believe the investment will be repaid.

“The sun is always shining in Normanton.” 

Mr Scouller said other locations were being canvassed.

“We can’t fix the issue of power losses on our own but if we look at other locations and are successful it will put a big dent in the losses,” he said. 

A commissioning is planned in January 2017.