The two largest solar farms in Australia to date are being built in New South Wales with a combined capacity of 155 MW. Known as the Nyngan and Broken Hill solar projects, they represent a total investment of $440 million and will create up to 450 construction jobs. They will generate enough electricity to power over 50,000 homes annually while demonstrating the viability of utility-scale solar power in Australia.
2. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
INDUSTRY
DEVELOPMENT
AND JOB CREATION
IN AUSTRALIA
First Solar, AGL Energy Limited (AGL), the
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
and the New South Wales (NSW) Government
are supporting the delivery of Australia’s largest
utility-scale solar farms to date. Located in
NSW, the Nyngan and Broken Hill solar projects
have a combined capacity of 155 MW (AC).
Together, they will generate 360,000 megawatt
hours of electricity each year, sufficient to meet
the needs of over 50,000 average homes
in NSW.
The projects represent a total investment of
$440 million, supported by $166.7 million of
ARENA funding and an additional $64.9 million
in funding from the NSW Government.
The scale and footprint of these projects
demonstrate that utility-scale solar is a proven,
bankable source of power generation in
Australia today.
Expected to provide significant value to the
region with up to 450 direct construction jobs,
the projects will also offer scope to develop
regional skills and create more sustainable
employment. The projects’ impact on regional
development is highlighted in the following
ways:
• On-site jobs involved in the delivery of the
projects
• Off-site jobs involved in the supply of
materials for the projects
• Off-site jobs involved in the design,
management and support of the projects
investment
$440
are expected to be provided in NSW
450 JOBSIN CONSTRUCTION
56.3%LOCAL PROCUREMENT
3. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
PROJECT
OVERVIEW
KEY STATISTICS
Capacity/Generation: Nyngan Broken Hill
MW (AC) 102 53
Annual GWh (at plant boundary) 233.4 126
AC Capacity factor (at plant boundary) 26% 27%
Construction:
Scheduled construction start Jan 2014 July 2014
Scheduled construction end June 2015 Nov 2015
Peak Direct construction jobs created 300 150
Design Details:
Site area (ha) 460 200
Solar Field area (ha) 250 140
Number of modules (approx) 1,350,000 650,000
Number of posts (approx) 150,000 75,000
Number of inverters 154 80
Number of strings 105,000 55,000
Environmental Benefits:
Equivalent NSW homes powered @ 7 MWh/yr 33,300 17,000
Equivalent cars off the street 53,000 29,000
Nyngan
Owner: AGL Energy
EPC Contractor: First Solar (Australia) Pty Ltd
Size: 102MW (AC)
Estimated Completion Date: Mid 2015
Type: Ground Mount
Output: ~233GWh per year
Module Quantity: Over 1.3 million
*Based on national average data for Australian grid electricity and car emissions.
Broken Hill
Owner: AGL Energy
EPC Contractor: First Solar (Australia) Pty Ltd
Size: 53MW (AC)
Estimated Completion Date: Late 2015
Type: Ground Mount
Output: ~126GWh per year
Module Quantity: Over 650,000
*Based on national average data for Australian grid electricity and car emissions.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Construction Jobs (500)
Nyngan (300)
Broken Hill (150)
UQ Gatton (50)
Offsite Jobs (162+)
First Solar Corporate (25)
First Solar OM (2)
Suppliers (135+)
Jobs Supporting Project Sites (34)
First Solar OM (4)
Accomodation (10)
Transportation Services (10)
Catering (10)
FS CORPORATE
BROKEN HILL
NYNGAN
GATTON
SMA
AMPCONTROL
PRYSMIAN
IXL SOLAR
WILSON
TRANSFORMER
WILSON
TRANSFORMER
COVENTRY
FASTENERS
ABB
MAYFIELD
INDUSTRIES
IXL SOLAR
FS OM
BLUESCOPE
DELTAFLEX
HOFMANN
ENGINEERING
4. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
Solar Plant Component Procurement Item Construction Activity
Site Establishment Offices, Fencing, Utilities Civil Works, Delivery/Installation
Solar Modules Modules Module Installation
Mounting Structures Posts, Tilt Brackets, Tables Post/Structure Installation
DC Electrical Combiner Boxes, DC Cable Installation, Connection, Testing
Power Conversion Inverter, Transformer, Skid Delivery, Connection, Testing
AC Electrical Switchgear, AC Cable Delivery, Connection, Testing
Commissioning and Operation Spare Parts Testing, Analysis, Maintenance
SITE PREPARATION
SITE GEOTECH AND SURVEY
POST INSTALLATION
AC TRENCHING
UNDERGROUND CABLE
INSTALLATION
PCS FOUNDATIONS
TILT BRACKET INSTALLATION
FOLDING TABLE
INSTALLATION
MODULE INSTALL AND
STRING IN SERIES
DC WIRING AND
COMBINER BOX
PCS
PVCS
PV SUBSTATION
PLANT TESTING AND
COMMISSIONING
COMPLETE
CONSTRUCTION
OF A UTILITY-SCALE
SOLAR FARM
Courtesyof:CleanEnergyCouncil
5. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
OVERVIEW
SOLAR PLANT
SUPPLY CHAIN
OPPORTUNITIES
Location Geelong, VIC (Head Office Manufacturing),
Adelaide, SA (Manufacturing)
Employees 200+
Sector focus Automotive
Solar
Component
Tables
Solar-
Related Jobs
40 (at peak)
Total
Investment
$25-30M
Recent
Events
Historically dependant on the local automotive
industry to support its steel fabrication
business, IXL is opening a new manufacturing
facility in Adelaide in April 2014 that will
produce and supply structural components for
the solar projects.
IXL GROUP COMPANY PROFILE
Location Melbourne, VIC (Head Office),
Wodonga, VIC (Manufacturing)
Employees 550
Sector focus Utilities
Solar
Component
Transformers
Solar-
Related Jobs
~65
Total
Investment
$9-10M
Recent
Events
With an increase in off-shore competition,
Wilson Transformer has embarked on a
strategy to demonstrate the benefit and value
of maintaining local expertise. Despite many
low-cost global competitors, its bid for the
Nyngan and Broken Hill work was chosen on
merit based on its competitive costs and high
quality.
WILSON TRANSFORMER COMPANY PROFILE
Jon Retford, General Manager
Distribution Business Unit,
Wilson Transformer
Claude Dagescy, General Manager
IXL Solar
First Solar is committed to supporting Australian
manufacturers and our first preference is to source
materials within Australia whenever it is viable and
appropriate to do so. Local procurement accounts for
56.3% of total procurement spending on the Nyngan and
Broken Hill projects, with over $66 million spent on local
equipment for both projects.
“Our contract providing transformers
and switchgear to the Nyngan and
Broken Hill solar projects represents
a significant milestone for our
business and a real boost to our
manufacturing facility in Albury-
Wodonga.As anAustralian owned
company with over 550 employees,
opportunities like this highlight the
strength of Australian manufacturing
in an increasingly competitive
marketplace”
“As anAustralian owned company
that has been based in Geelong
for over 150 years, we have had to
explore new business opportunities
as local automotive manufacturing
declines. Making mounting structures
for First Solar has been a natural
extension for our business, and
we believe thatAustralian-made
mounting systems can be more
than competitive with imports.”
BREAKDOWN OF LOCAL EQUIPMENT PROCURED
Cables/Miscellanous
Power conversion/Switch gear
Mounting structures
46.2%
46.2%
7.6%
International Procurement
Local Procurement
43.7%
56.3%
LOCAL VERSUS INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT
SPENDING
Cables/Miscellanous
Power conversion/Switch gear
Mounting structures
46.2%
46.2%
7.6%
International Pro
Local Procurem
43.7%
56.3%
International Procurement
Local Procurement
43.7%
56.3%
International Procurement
Local Procurement
.7%
*Excludes solar panel supply
Courtesyof:CleanEnergyCouncil
6. INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATIONINDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
OVERVIEW
SOLAR FARM
CONTRACTING
OPPORTUNITIES
The total value of local subcontractor procurement for
services provided on the Nyngan and Broken Hill projects is
over $76 million. Procurement of local services will result in
peak employment of over 450 construction jobs across the
two sites.
BREAKDOWN OF LOCAL SUBCONTRACTOR
SERVICES PROCURED
WBHO CIVIL AND PROBUILD CIVIL COMPANY PROFILES
WBHO CIVIL PROBUILD CIVIL
Location Subiaco, WA Bowen Hills, QLD
Employees 500+ 150+
Sector Focus Civil construction Civil infrastructure
Solar
Component
Fencing and Civil Site Establishment, Structural Works (post installation), and Balance of Scope Electrical
Solar-Related
Jobs
100 local job opportunities in addition to subcontract opportunities for local companies
Total
Investment
$50-60M
Recent Events In 2012, WBHO Civil partnered with First Solar on the
10 MW Greenough River Solar Farm. The projects at
Nyngan and Broken Hill allow WBHO Civil to continue
this partnership with First Solar as it expands the
company footprint into NSW.
Probuild Civil has a strong reputation in the civil
construction industry for specialising in the high
quality construction of roads, bridges, earthworks,
concrete structures and boutique projects. Probuild
Civil is now expanding into different markets, such
as solar projects, and partnering with reputable
organisations to deliver successful outcomes.
Electrical
Structural
Civil
Services
Equipment
Pre-mobilisation
Design and Engineering
49.2%
12.5%
7.9%
11.8%
9.9%
1.0%
7.7%
Electrical
Structural
Civil
Services
Pre-mobilisation
Electrical
Structural
Civil
Services
Equipment
Pre-mobilisation
Design and Engineering
12.5%
7.9%
11.8%
“Our business has traditionally
been focused on civil construction
supporting the mining and resources
sector. Working with First Solar has
given our employees the opportunity
to understand the challenges of
constructing a utility scale solar farm
and reduce cost and risk incrementally
from project to project. Projects like
the ones at Nyngan and Broken Hill
mean a lot to the communities and
provide long term infrastructure and
employment opportunities for remote
and regional Australia.”
Will Grobler, Managing Director
WBHO Civil
Courtesyof:CleanEnergyCouncil
7. PROJECT
PARTNERS
First Solar (Australia) PTY LTD
(ABN 66 141 686 946)
Level 3, 16 Spring Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia +61 2 9002 7700
WWW.FIRSTSOLAR.COM
AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY (ARENA)
The projects will be delivered with the support of funding from the Commonwealth Government through
the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
ARENA was established by the Australian Government as an independent authority to make renewable
energy technologies more affordable and increase the amount of renewable energy used in Australia.
ARENA is funded through to 2022 to invest in renewable energy projects, support research and
development activities and increase industry and community knowledge about renewable energy.
For more information about ARENA, please visit: arena.gov.au
NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT
The projects will be delivered with the support of funding from the New South Wales Government.
The NSW Government has developed the Renewable Energy Action Plan to guide NSW’s renewable
energy development and to support the national target of 20% renewable energy by 2020.
For more information about the NSW Government, please visit: www.nsw.gov.au
FIRST SOLAR (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
First Solar has been engaged by AGL Energy Limited to build both the Nyngan and Broken Hill solar
projects. First Solar will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for both sites,
using its advanced thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules.
First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions.
Our vertically integrated power plant offerings diversify the energy portfolio and reduce the impact of
fuel-price volatility while delivering an economically attractive alternative or complement to fossil fuel
electricity generation. By integrating technologies and expertise across the entire solar value chain,
First Solar delivers bankable PV energy solutions that can maximize the value of our customers’
PV investment while minimizing their risk. With over 8 gigawatts installed worldwide, First Solar has
developed, financed, engineered, constructed, and operated some of the world’s largest and most
successful PV power plants in existence, establishing the company as the partner of choice for
customers globally.
First Solar will also maintain both projects for AGL for five years after commercial operation starts.
For more information about First Solar, please visit: www.firstsolar.com
AGL ENERGY LIMITED
AGL Energy Limited is developing the Nyngan and Broken Hill projects as part of, and with support from,
the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the NSW Government.
Drawing on over 175 years of experience, AGL is Australia’s leading renewable energy company and
largest private owner, operator and developer of renewable generation assets. The development of this
solar project demonstrates AGL’s commitment to renewable energy and is a natural next step for AGL
to build on its strong track record of wind, hydro and biomass renewable generation assets.
AGL is committed to ensuring that all of its projects are delivered in a safe, sustainable and professional
manner and that all feedback from interested stakeholders is addressed in a timely and effective way.
For more information about AGL Energy, please visit: www.agl.com.au