**CLONCURRY solar farm worth **$6.76 million will get the go-ahead after a tender to design, build and operate the 2.128 megawatt project was announced yesterday.
Energy Minister Stephen Robertson announced Ingenero Pty Ltd as the preferred tender for 19 expressions of interest at the proposed site in Cloncurry.
Negotiations are under way for the company to build the Cloncurry solar farm on land close to the Cloncurry North electricity substation on Sir Hudson Fysh Drive.
Mr Robertson said the solar farm would comprise 7600 polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic panels mounted on multiple rows angled at 25 degrees and facing due north to maximise exposure to the sun.
“These panels will generate about 3700 megawatt hours of electricity per year which is enough to power about 500 households,” he said.
Construction of the solar farm is scheduled to start in July 2012 if Ingenero receives development approvals and concluding contractual and land lease arrangements, as well as network connection and power purchase agreements.
The solar farm should be completed by October 2012.
Mount Isa MP Betty Kiernan said the State Government was investing $5.7 million towards the total cost of $6.76 million.
“Cloncurry is an ideal location for a solar farm and shire residents will benefit from the clean, renewable energy that it will contribute to their local electricity supply,” she said.
“The project also delivers on our commitment to support renewable energy solutions for rural, remote and isolated communities.”
Mr Robertson sang the praises of Ingenero Pty Ltd after announcing it as the preferred tenderer.
“Ingenero is a leading Australian commercial solar engineering, procurement and construction company,” he said.
“It has already delivered some of the largest and most complex solar engineering projects in the southern hemisphere.”
More information about the Cloncurry solar farm can be found at cleanenergy.qld.gov.au.
by Townsville Bulletin
