The 132 MWdc Merredin Solar Farm – now Western Australia’s most notable renewables icon – links up to the grid to generate 100 per cent capacity to meet demands across the South West Interconnected System (SWIS).
Expected to churn out 274GWh of electricity every year, the Merredin Solar farm carries the potential to power around 42,000 homes throughout the state.
Situated across from the Western Power Merredin Terminal, the site spans across 460 hectares of land formerly used in farming and agriculture.
Service provider Western Power collaborated with Monford to ensure the commissioning and construction of the site went smoothly. On behalf of Rosen, the AEMO also managed the staged live commissioning process, which inevitably allowed for the exporting of 100 per cent of the output. Best of all, it’s all compatible with Western Power’s grid needs.
General Manager Eric Lee of Rosien Energy said it’d been a pleasure to work with Western Power on a project that was smoothly streamlined from start to finish.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Western Power and their smooth coordination with AEMO has enabled us to reach this milestone of achieving a fully operational solar facility which will supply green power,” Lee said in a press release.
Speedy construction also tops the charts
In comparison to similar projects, the Merredin Solar Farm is one of the quickest constructions of its kinds in large-scale solar farms – ever.
This is mostly thanks to the teamwork between Monford Group and Risen, ensuring all aspects across electrical, mechanical and civil works were completed within just three months.
The fact that Risen and Monford were able to provide resources to the project meant that all required materials and elements were on site when needed, eliminating potentially lengthy delays.
General Manager of Monford, Ciaran Shannon, said the professional relationship between both companies ensured the development was headed on the right track towards success.
“[We] welcome the opportunity to deliver further landmark renewable energy projects and support Risen’s commendable goal to deliver 2GW of clean energy to Australia,” Shannon said.
Features of Merredin Solar Farm
- The 132 MWdc farm features 354,452 Risen Energy panels on a single-axis tracking system.
- Designed to be a significant support system towards eliminating greenhouse gases across Western Australia.
- The farm requires two full-time employees to oversee, operate and maintain the entire installation.
- The facility includes 30 years’ operating life and may be able to opt for an extension.
- Once the life of this site is over, all above-ground infrastructure will be disposed of and the site will return to its purpose in farming and grazing.
