Plan for Australia’s largest solar power (2,000 MW) approved

Australian local government authorities this week approved a plan to build the nation’s biggest solar energy plant at a cost of more than 1 billion U.S. dollars.

The Toowoomba Regional Council approved the staged construction of a 5,000 hectare site at Bulli Creek in southwest Queensland and developer Solar Choice plans to start construction next year.

The solar power plant will have the capacity of producing 2,000 megawatts (MW), more power than any one coal-fired power station in Queensland.

Solar Choice managing director Angus Gemmell said the approval came after 18 months of planning.

“It’s almost mind-boggling large, just the width of the project is eight kilometers,” he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“It’s soaked in sunshine, there’s great irradiance levels west of the Great Divide,” he said.

Gemmell said the project has attracted strong overseas investor interest, and would be completed in stages over eight years.