AGL has achieved financial close for two utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects. First Solar has executed engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts to supply the projects with its advanced thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules and provide EPC services. In addition, First Solar will provide maintenance support for a period of five years once the solar farms are operational.
AGL has engaged First Solar to construct a 102 MW solar plant at Nyngan and a 53 MW solar project at Broken Hill, both located in New South Wales (Australia). The projects are supported by A$166.7m (US$150m) of Commonwealth Government funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as well as an additional A$64.9m (about US$60m) in funding from the NSW Government. The total project cost is approximately A$450m (nearly US$405m).
Construction of the Nyngan project is expected to commence in January 2014, with commercial operation expected by mid-2015. Construction of the Broken Hill project will start approximately six months later, in July 2014, and is scheduled to reach commercial operation before the end of 2015. On completion, the projects are expected to produce approximately 360 GWh/year of electricity, which will be sufficient to meet the needs of over 50,000 average homes in NSW.
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