ORIGIN ENERGY FOCUSES ON LARGE-SCALE SOLAR

Origin Energy is taking a leading role in moving to a cleaner energy future.

With major advances in technology in recent years, solar has emerged as potentially the lowest-cost source of renewable energy—challenging wind energy in the Australian market for the first time. As a result, Origin Energy is focusing more attention on large-scale solar to complement its 700 megawatt wind energy portfolio.

In May 2016 Origin Energy announced a 15-year power purchase agreement with leading global solar company Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) for the electricity generated by the 56 megawatt Moree Solar Farm in northern New South Wales. Origin Energy also announced a power purchase agreement for the 100 megawatt Clare Solar Farm in north Queensland, which started construction in early 2017. Both the Moree and Clare solar farms feature tracking technology, with panels that follow the sun throughout the day to maximise output.

The community increasingly expects renewables to replace traditional fossil fuels in the energy mix, and the industry is working on solutions to improve the reliability of renewables.

Origin Energy also recently signed a power purchase agreement for the 10.8 megawatt Lakeland Solar Project in far north Queensland, one of Australia's first 'edge-of-grid projects'. Lakeland will feature 5.3 megawatt hours of battery storage that will allow a network of 3000 local homes to be 'islanded' from the main electricity grid and powered entirely by solar and batteries for several hours during the evening peak. It is hoped the pioneering project will make a significant contribution to a broader rollout of solar and battery power.

In 2017, Origin Energy will continue to focus on renewables, including progressing the 110 megawatt Darling Downs Solar Farm, which will be Australia's largest solar power farm with the capacity to power up to 32 000 homes in south-east Queensland.

Origin Energy provided this content.