Solar Projects: The Prospecting Race & ARENA Funding

UPDATE: The Solar Race

The “solar prospecting race” is continuing to heat up with in Central Queensland. Farmers and landowners are being approached by solar and renewable energy companies interested in building large-scale solar farms on their land.

Solar Projects – On-farm Income

Solar projects and farms are an opportunity for farmers and landowners to earn a different form of “on-farm” income. In addition to directly benefiting the farmers and landowners, solar projects and farms can have a wider impact on rural communities in Queensland. These projects offer a relatively reliable energy source and create job opportunities during the construction of the solar farm.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has recently announced that 10 large-scale solar projects in Queensland have been selected to proceed from the proposal stage to the full application stage. The projects selected are able to bid to secure Federal Government funding. A full list of these solar projects can be found on the ARENA website.

The Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt has said “the shortlisted proposals were chosen from a very strong field, demonstrating Australia is ready to invest in utility-scale renewable energy options suited to the 21st century”.

If Federal Government funding is received by solar and renewable energy companies, we are set to see large-scale solar projects located in Dalby, Proserpine, Oakey, Hughenden, Longreach, Baralaba and Ipswich.

If you have been approached by a solar or renewable energy company or have questions about the potential opportunities, including the use of your property for clean energy or renewable projects, our Rural, Mining and Gas Agribusiness Team can help.

Please contact either Melanie Findlay or Emma Kime of Rees R & Sydney Jones for further information. 

You may also be interested in reading other articles written by Melanie Findlay such as Solar Farm Opportunities for Landowners.

Landowners Solar Farm Opportunities

Off Farm income streams are always being looked at by Graziers and Farmers, but what about if your rural property could provide you with a different form of “on-farm” income.

Central Queensland is becoming a hot spot for large scale solar installations or Solar Farms. Under the Solar 60 Program, the Queensland Government is calling for tenders and will provide financial assistance to solar and renewable energy companies to develop 60MW large-scale solar farms. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) have also committed more than A$100 million to drive the development of large-scale solar projects in Australia.

With funding for large-scale solar projects available, Landowners are being approached by solar and renewable energy companies for the rights to investigate and build solar farms on their land. Origin Energy has even indicated that there is a “Prospecting Race” for solar projects in Queensland. 

If you have any queries about opportunities in Solar or using your property for clean energy or renewable projects, please contact Rural, Mining and Gas Partner, Melanie Findlay of local firm Rees R & Sydney Jones on 07 4927 6333.