Mid West solar project passes milestone

Construction of Australia's largest solar power station near Geraldton has passed a major milestone, with the first panels installed today.

Australian Solar Energy Society chief executive John Grimes said the 10 megawatt project, which is being constructed at Greenough, around 50 kilometres south of Geraldton, would create around 100 local jobs.

Mr Grimes said the project would be the first of many large solar plants to be built in the Mid West.

“Project partners First Solar, Verve Energy and GE Energy Financial Services, should be congratulated for opening the door to Australia’s solar future,” Mr Grimes said. "The Western Australian Government should be commended for its commitment of $20 million to this important infrastructure project.”

Mr Grimes said large-scale solar power generation made sense for the Mid West.

“The region’s enormous appetite for energy is matched by some of the best sunshine in the world,” he said.

“Solar increasingly makes economic sense in the Mid West, with a dramatic fall in the price of solar PV countering a significant rise in the cost of electricity.”