Australia’s biggest wind and solar hybrid facility, the 317MW Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park (PAREP), has installed the last of its 50 wind turbines, completing construction of the massive project.
The $500 million facility, which is being built by Spanish giant Iberdrola in conjunction with the project developer DP Energy, combines 210MW of wind energy capacity and 107MW of solar, from 250,000 PV modules.
“Energisation” of the project is expected as soon as the connection approval is finalised, and once fully commissioned the PAREP is expected to significantly increase the amount of renewables installed on the state’s already world-leading grid.
South Australia energy minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said the project had created more than 200 full-time jobs during the construction phase and would create a further 20 on-going jobs after completion.
“This innovative regional renewable energy project is an example of the way our state government is delivering on its vision for South Australia to achieve 100% net renewable energy by 2030,” he said.
