Today’s announcement by Origin Energy to purchase 100 per cent of renewable power from a yet-to-be-built solar farm is another sign of strong confidence in Australia’s renewable energy sector.
Origin Energy has entered into a power purchase agreement with Fotowatio Renewable Ventures for the new Clare Solar Farm – to be located 35 kilometres west of Ayr in North Queensland.
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with completion due in 2017.
This is great news for Ayr and nearby areas in the region which will benefit from the major new project.
Since the Coalition fixed Labor's renewable energy mess last year, we have seen 660 MW of new large scale renewable energy projects announced.
And there’s significant more investment and construction in the pipeline.
There will be a doubling in large-scale renewable energy between now and 2020 under the Renewable Energy Target.
Only yesterday, the Clean Energy Regulator confirmed that we are on track to meet that target.
A rock solid Renewable Energy Target is providing policy stability and certainty for investors.
The Turnbull Government is driving renewable energy investment in Australia without pushing up electricity prices for families and businesses.
We recently announced a $1 billion Clean Energy Innovation Fund to support emerging technologies make the leap from demonstration to commercial deployment.
This will drive innovation and create the jobs of the future.
(ENDS)