Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), a leading global developer of renewable utility-scale projects and part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, is to develop an 85 MWac solar project in the Australian state of Victoria.

The project was awarded through its subsidiary Winton Asset Trust with the support of the State Government in the Victorian Renewable Energy 2017 Reverse Auction Scheme aimed at supporting the achievement of the Victorian Renewable Energy Targets (VRET).

Covering approximately 250 hectares, the 85 MWac Winton Solar Farm near the town of Benalla is due to start construction in early 2019.  Once operational, it will supply enough electricity to power around 50,000 homes and deliver an annual reduction of 150,000 tons of CO2.

The solar farm will create job opportunities during both construction and operation phases, including an estimated 150 workers required to build the plant, and the development of a local employment and procurement program that will create indirect economic opportunities for local businesses and the community.

Winton Solar Farm

In line with Victorian State Government’s goal to strengthen community support of renewable energy projects, FRV’s Community Engagement and Social Benefit Sharing Plan aim’s to meet the needs of the local community and includes a two-year pilot partnership with the Regent Honeyeater Project, one of the most active volunteer conservation projects in Australia.  FRV is also exploring support of the Benalla Sustainable Futures Group, helping to deliver key aspects of their three-point plan to position Benalla as one of the first ‘zero net energy’ towns.

Daniel Sagi Vela Winton Solar Farm is FRV’s fifth large-scale solar project in Australia since it entered the market in 2010, and the first in the State of Victoria.  The other projects are Royalla (20 MWac) in the Australian Capital Territory; Moree (56 MWac) in New South Wales and Clare (100 MWac) in Queensland.  In addition, FRV is about to finish the construction of the Lilyvale solar plant (100 MWac) in Queensland.

These five developments, when all operational, will generate around 365 MWac of clean energy capacity, bringing the total value of FRV’s solar investments in the Australian renewable energy sector to around A$ 850 million.

Daniel Sagi-Vela, Chief Executive Officer of FRV, solar and wind renewable energy company and part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, said: “with this, our fifth major project in Australia, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy is proud to continue to be a part of the development of a sustainable energy and economic future of Australia.”

 

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