Downer’s $150m solar farm deal
DOWNER EDI has been awarded a contract worth about $150 million to build an 87 megawatt solar farm.
The contract was awarded by First Solar and tasks the industrial services giant to provide engineering, procurement and construction services to build the Beryl Solar Farm in regional NSW.
The Beryl farm will produce energy to run about 25,000 average homes, displacing more than 167,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
The solar farm will generate electricity with no water use, no air emissions and no waste production.
First Solar is a leading global provider of photovoltaic solar systems and its power plant solutions deliver alternatives to fossil-fuel generation.
Downer chief executive Grant Fenn said the contract will result in direct and indirect job creation.
“Large scale projects are critical to our regional communities and we are looking forward to partnering with First Solar to deliver the Beryl Solar Farm that will see significant electricity economic and environmental benefits,” Mr Fenn said yesterday.
First Solar said the farm will generate approximately 150 construction jobs as well as ongoing full time positions, and where possible, the company will partner with local businesses and suppliers.
Construction is expected to take about a year to complete.