Epuron in a joint venture with SunPower have agreed to intensify the production capacity of the Uterne solar power plant.
The plant will be completed in 2015, powering approximately 1,000 homes in Alice Springs with clean energy each year. A $13 million loan to Epuron is provided by CEFC for Uterne’s expansion.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) will fund the development works, increasing the size of Uterne plant from 1MW to 4.1 MW.
Uterne being an integral part of the solar energy portfolio is growing in size up to 5 MW capacities. Partnership with SunPower technology promises delivery of reliable, emissions-free electricity in future, said, Andrew Durran, executive director, Epuron.
SunPower will be responsible for the design and extension of the 3.1 MW plant using solar panels mounted on the trackers positioning panels to follow the sun all day, allowing high energy production with minimum land use.
The additional 3.1 MW of trackers will be installed on near the 1 MW plant, where the trackers are currently operating.
Through this project an Australian company with expertise in dealing with the solar resources is partnering with CEFC team. The potential for this project is demonstrated in identifying untapped resources for utility-scale solar power and then financing for Uterne, said Oliver Yates, CEO, CEFC.
During the 1MW Uterne installation when plant was commissioned by SunPower in June 2011 as part of the Alice Solar City program with a power purchase agreement offer from Northern Territory’s Power and Water Corporation (PWC), who will also be purchasing the clean electricity from this 3.1 MW expansion.
The initial 1MW Uterne was acquired by Epuron in October 2012 from SunPower after they developed and constructed the solar power plant.
After the commissioning of expanded portion, the overall level of solar generation will source to around six percent of the electricity demands of the city annually, said, Trevor Horman, manager, Sustainable Energy, Power and Water Corporation, Northern Territory.