First Solar Selected for 63MW Kidston Solar Project in Australia

First Solar, Inc. welcomes the news that Genex Power Limited has achieved financial close for the Kidston Phase One Solar Project in Queensland, Australia. First Solar will supply 63MW dc of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules to the project which will produce approximately 145,000MWh of electricity in its first year of operation. The project is located next to the proposed Kidston Pumped Storage Project and in an industry first, Genex Power will seek to integrate solar generation with a pumped hydroelectricity energy storage system.

“As Australia continues to diversify its renewable energy portfolio, this project is an excellent example of the potential of large-scale solar application and industry best practice,” said Ewan Norton-Smith, First Solar’s Senior Manager for Business Development in Australia. “The combination of solar energy with pumped-storage hydroelectricity will allow for increasing penetration of renewable energy into the grid and will contribute to the stability of supply in the National Electricity Market. Genex Power is at the forefront of this emerging industry, and with several compelling Australian projects on the horizon, we’re proud to be supporting phase one of the project.”

Situated 270km north-west of Townsville in far north Queensland, the first phase of the project will use more than 540,000 First Solar thin-film PV modules.

“Genex Power is pleased to confirm the appointment of First Solar as its PV module supplier for the Kidston Solar Project. First Solar has an excellent track record of delivering large-scale solar projects in Australia with their world-leading thin-film PV technology, and the company is a welcome addition to the strong delivery team Genex Power has assembled for this exciting project,” said Michael Addison, Genex Power’s Managing Director. “The combination of First Solar’s thin-film modules, single-axis tracking technology and the excellent local solar resource in Queensland will give our project the highest chance of achieving a record solar capacity factor in Australia.”

The electricity from the Kidston Phase One Solar Project will be sold via a Power Purchase Agreement supported by the Queensland Government. The project is also supported by $8.9 million of Commonwealth Government funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

Construction of the project will be managed by UGL Engineering Pty Ltd. and is on schedule to commence in the first half of 2017.