Iberdrola starts Broadsound solar farm, battery system in Australia

Spain-headquartered Iberdrola Australia has started construction of its Broadsound 376 MW (DC) solar farm and 180 MW/360 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Clarke Creek, 160 km northwest of Rockhampton and 223 km south of Mackay, in Queensland.

Announced in 2022, the project is on a former 3,600 hectare cattle station and is near Australian renewables developer Squadron Energy’s Clarke Creek Stage One 450 MW wind farm.

Broadsound solar farm and BESS will generate enough electricity to power 145,000 homes and will connect to the grid via transmission network service provider Powerlink Queensland’s 275 kV Broadsound substation.

Installation of the 645,000 solar modules is expected to take around two years through mid-2026.

Iberdrola Australia CEO and Chairman Ross Rolfe said the company is excited to be generating energy in the Queensland market.

“With more than 20 years’ experience working in Australian communities, we’re looking forward to this big step into the Queensland market and adding to our 1.7 GW of energy assets in operation across the country,” Rolfe said. “It’s been great to work with the local community, the First Nations people, and in particular the Queensland government and Isaac Regional Council to deliver this project to deliver clean and affordable energy.”

The project is being developed on Barada Kabalbara Yetimarala land and the company says it looks forward to continuing to work closely with First Nations people on the project.

A community benefit fund has also been established and will be tailored to local community needs during construction and for the operational life of the project.

From pv magazine Australia.