First Solar to deliver 48.5 MW Solar Farm in Australia

First Solar announced to deliver 48.5 MW project, which will utilize approximately 466,000 First Solar thin-film Photovoltaic  modules and single-axis tracking technology expected to produce more than 120,000 megawatt-hours of electricity in its first year of operation. The Manildra Solar Farm will take First Solar’s installed capacity in Australia to more than 400MW when it is complete in 2018.

Located one kilometer east of Manildra in regional NSW, the Manildra Solar Farm will benefit directly from existing solar supply chains, and operations and maintenance hubs. It will also provide significant economic benefits to the region, through the creation of direct and indirect jobs, supporting small business and developing regional skills in a growing industry. The Manildra Solar Farm is supported by AUD$9.8 million of grant funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

Once complete, the project is expected to produce enough solar energy to serve the needs of approximately 14,000 average NSW homes and displace more than 91,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year – the equivalent of taking about 24,000 cars off the road.

First Solar’s Regional Manager of Asia Pacific, Jack Curtis said that Today’s milestone is a testament to the ability and experience of First Solar’s development and delivery team, and they congratulate ARENA and Energy Australia on their commitment to commercially viable projects.

Image Source: First Solar