First Solar in Freo power station deal

US-based company First Solar is a step closer to building a 10-megawatt power station in Fremantle, beating seven other hopefuls to meet the council’s hopes for a large-scale solar farm at a former rubbish dump.

The proposed development and search for a proponent was instigated by the council as part of a broader plan to be a leading city of sustainability.

Under the agreement with the City of Fremantle, First Solar would be responsible for the cost, construction and operation of the solar farm. 

Last month, Business News revealed another global solar, PV company, ET Solar, was in confidential talks with a Fremantle business to set up a 9MW rooftop solar system.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said in a statement First Solar had been granted a year to act as the exclusive proponent pursuing a customer or customers for a power purchasing agreement and to resolve environmental and regulatory approval matters.

The 19.4-hectare site operated as a landfill from 1930 to 1991 and is classified as a contaminated and requiring remediation under the Contaminated Sites Act 2003.

The council received submissions from Sunpower (which later withdrew), Epuron, Energy Made Clean, juwi renewable energy, UN LTD Power, Sunseap Leasing, ET Solar and Westgen.

Earlier this month, Sandfire Resources announced it had contracted German group juwi to build a 10.6MW solar power station at its DeGrussa copper mine in Meekatharra.

Should the arrangement with First Solar not result in an agreement to lease the land and develop the solar farm within an agreed timeframe, City of Fremantle said it would then begin discussions with its second preferred candidate, Epuron.