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Neoen Begins Construction on 440 MWp Culcairn Solar Project in NSW with Bouygues Construction
French renewable energy and battery storage developer Neoen says it has begun the construction phase of its 440 MWp Culcairn solar project in NSW.
Neoen has begun the construction phase of its 440 MWp Culcairn solar farm in New South Wales after awarding an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract to the consortium of Bouygues Energies & Services Australia and Bouygues Construction Australia.
Culcairn, located around 40kms north of Albury in Wiradjuri country, was one of two large scale generation projects that were successful in the state government’s latest tender seeking to accelerate the energy transition.
The solar project is backed by a Long-Term Energy Services Agreement. Neoen says it also expects to contract the project through long term power purchase agreements.
The solar project itself is sized at 440 MWp / 350 MW (ac), making it one of the largest solar farms in NSW and the second biggest in Neoen’s portfolio.
The project will generate enough energy to power 160,000 homes, more than double the number of dwellings in the Riverina region of NSW and will deliver a major boost to the regional economy through the creation of jobs and ongoing work for the local community.
It will provide $10 million towards local community programs over the lifetime of the project, including an annual Community Benefit Fund and contributions to the Greater Hume Shire Council. The solar farm will incorporate agrisolar in the form of sheep-grazing.
This will be the ninth solar farm that Neoen has delivered in Australia. The opportunity to work on the Culcairn Solar Farm reflects its strong credentials and expertise in the solar industry.
Louis de Sambucy, Head of Neoen Australia, said:
“We have developed a strong pipeline of wind, solar and battery storage projects in NSW designed to help accelerate the State’s energy transition, as it moves towards halving emissions by 2030.”
Source: Giles Parkinson, Renew Economy and Bouygues Construction Australia
