planned installed capacity of the Kiamal Solar Farm, located near the township of Ouyen in north-western Victoria, approximately 100 km south of Mildura. The solar farm is to be built in two stages. The first stage will comprise 200 MW of single-axis tracing solar panels and a 100 MW/380 MWh battery storage facility. Phase II is likely to see the balance 150 MW being constructed.

of electricity will be generated per year by the farm once operational.

approximate number of households that can be powered by the farm each year.

estimated reduction in CO2 emissions each year, once the farm is operational.

hectares of land will be used for the solar farm.

solar panels with single-axis trackers will be used.

major organisations involved: Project Developer: Total Eren, EPC and O&M: Biosar Australia (part of the Greek infrastructure group Aktor SA, and Canadian Solar), PPA: Flow Power (50 MW), Mars Australia, Alinta Energy and Zero Emissions Water - a consortium of 13 water authorities.

estimated project cost. The project is supported by a debt financing package of approximately $250 million involving Australian and European banks ANZ, ING and Natixis.

peak jobs during construction phase.

FTE during operational phase.

Expected start of construction

Meredian Energy (Powershop Australia) signs long term PPA for an undisclosed offtake from the farm, but subsequently dropped out due to delays in the project.

Mildura City Council gives development approval for a 100MW/380MWh battery storage facility to be added to the farm.

Mars Australia signs PPA to source its entire power needs for 6 factories and 2 offices from the project.

Emerging retailer Flow Power signs contract to buy 50 MW of the output from project.

Total Eren announces it has resolved connectivity issues that had delayed the start of the project. Total Eren will work with TransGrid to deliver a new 220 kV Kiamal Terminal Station and Collector Substation, with the two 180MVA transformers designed and manufactured locally by Wilsons Transformers in Victoria.

Commencement of construction ceremony celebrated in Melbourne with the presence of the Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.

Total Eren announces financial closure having secured debt finance of $250 million which will be provided by ANZ (Australia), ING (Netherlands) and Natixis (France). The announcement also revealed that the Australian government’s green bank, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has acquired a minority stake in the project to the tune of around $51 million.

13 of Victoria’s water corporations partner under a new umbrella organisation called Zero Emissions Water, to buy clean energy from the project at a much cheaper rate than would be possible individually. The deal will allow water corporations to cover between 20 to 50% of their total energy needs with solar power – slashing carbon dioxide emissions by 80,000 tonnes every year.

Total Eren announces financial closure having secured debt finance of $250 million which will be provided by ANZ (Australia), ING (Netherlands) and Natixis (France). The announcement also revealed that the Australian government’s green bank, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has acquired a minority stake in the project to the tune of around $51 million.

33% of construction completed.

A massive 190MVAr synchronous condenser imported marking a new era for renewable energy integration in Australia. Measuring 55 x 65 metres, the new Siemens synchronous condenser solves the problem of how to keep a constant, safe level of current in transmission lines. This problem is especially true where large amounts of power from solar and wind are added – as in north-western Victoria.

Reports surface of delayed payments made by Biosar to its employees and contractors. Biosar and the project in general has been impacted by delays in grid connectivity. The process has been complicated by delays imposed by the Australian Energy Market Operator due to system strength issues, and the “oscillation” problems that caused five existing solar farms to have their output cut in half in September and a halt to new connections until a “firmware” solution for their inverters was approved late last month.

The Greek-based international contracting and renewable energy group Ellaktor has revealed that it and its Biosar subsidiary paid €23 million ($A40 million) to extract itself from loss-making and delayed solar projects in Australia, part of a massive €67 million ($A115 million) hit it suffered in the fourth quarter as it sought to exit the country.

Total Eren, Beon “step in” to complete commissioning of the project after Biosar's exit. According to a statement released by Total Eren, “To help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 which has hindered the free movement of people internationally and inter-state, the owners of Kiamal Solar Farm have temporarily stepped-in to manage commissioning works on site with the assistance of Beon, a local Victorian-based electrical contractor." The statement goes on the say Biosar will be handed control once the project is fully commissioned.