Solar power is a fast-growing industry in Australia. As of June 2023, Australia's over 3.52 million solar PV installations had a combined capacity of 32,095 MW photovoltaic (PV) solar power, of which at least 4,389 MW were installed in the preceding 12 months. In 2019, 59 solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 2,881 MW were either under construction, constructed or due to start construction having reached financial closure. Solar accounted for 12.4% of Australia's total electrical energy production in 2021.
Renewable energy in Australia includes wind power, hydroelectricity, solar photovoltaics, heat pumps, geothermal, wave and solar thermal energy.
Kidston Dam also known as Copperfield Dam is a dam in Lyndhurst, Shire of Etheridge, Queensland, Australia. It is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Hughenden and was built for the Kidston Gold Mine. The mine closed July 2001. The lake created by the dam has a capacity of 20,600 megalitres.
Queensland's energy policy is based on the year 2000 document called the Queensland Energy Policy: A Cleaner Energy Strategy. The Queensland Government assists energy development through the Department of Energy and Water Supply. The state is noted for its significant contribution to coal mining in Australia. The primary fuel for electricity generation in the state is coal with coal seam gas becoming a significant fuel source. Queensland has 98% of Australia's reserves of coal seam gas. An expansion of energy-intensive industries such as mining, economic growth and population growth have created increased demand for energy in Queensland.
The Windorah Solar Farm is Ergon Energy's first solar farm trial near the town of Windorah in the Shire of Barcoo, Queensland, Australia. The plant uses five concentrated solar dishes or reflectors which were manufactured and installed by Solar Systems. This is expected to save up to 100,000 litres of diesel fuel per year. The integration of solar farm and diesel power is a first for Ergon Energy.
Braemar Power Station is a complex of natural gas and coal seam gas fired combined-cycle power stations in Kogan, Western Downs Region, Queensland, Australia. It is near Dalby in the Darling Downs region.
The Centinela Solar Energy Project is a 170 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power plant located on 2,067 acres (836 ha) of previously disturbed private land southwest of El Centro, California. The project planned to provide at least 235 jobs, generate more than $30 million in tax revenue over its life-time, and deliver enough electricity to power about 82,500 homes. Imperial County gave a green-light to the solar power plant on December 27, 2011, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar approved the right-of-way over 19 acres for the connecting power line on public land.
Mount Emerald Wind Farm is a 180 MW wind farm situated on Mount Emerald, in Arriga, Shire of Mareeba, Queensland, Australia. It is approximately 8 km WNW of Tolga, and 49 km SW of Cairns. The project is a joint venture between Port Bajool and RATCH-Australia. RATCH-Australia bought the project from Transfield Services in July 2011. The wind farm incorporates 53 turbines.
Powerlink Queensland is an electricity transmission system operator owned by the Government of Queensland which operates the high-voltage electricity transmission infrastructure in Queensland.
Springlands is a rural locality in the Whitsunday Region, Queensland, Australia.
Kennedy Energy Park is a wind, solar and storage hybrid power station approximately 20 km south east of Hughenden and 290 km southwest of Townsville in Queensland.
Gannawarra Solar Farm is a photovoltaic solar power station in the Gannawarra Shire, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of Kerang in the Australian state of Victoria. It generates up to 60 MWdc electricity and exports up to 50.61 MWAC to the National Electricity Market at 66 kV.
Darling Downs Solar Farm is a 110MW photovoltaic solar power station in Queensland, Australia developed by APA Group 45 km west of Dalby in the Darling Downs region next to the Darling Downs Power Station. All of the power it produces will be sold to Origin Energy until 2030. It connects to the national electricity grid through Powerlink's Braemar substation. It has approximately 430,000 solar panels on an area of approximately 250 hectares.
Kidston Solar Project is a photovoltaic solar power station built on top of the former Kidston Gold Mine utilising the tailings storage facility in northern Queensland, Australia. The project consists of two solar farms, KS1 and KS2. The Kidston Solar Project is the first of four projects that comprise the Kidston Clean Energy Hub also occupying this area. A 250 megawatt (MW) hydro-pumped storage power generation project and a 150 MW wind farm make up the third and forth components. The site is located close to an existing substation and transmission line.
Shell Energy Australia provides gas, electricity, environmental products and energy productivity services to commercial and industrial customers.
The Western Downs Green Power Hub is a large solar farm near Chinchilla in Queensland, Australia. The photovoltaic solar power station uses one million solar panels to generate 400 megawatts of power. It utilizes 72-cell bi-facial solar modules on a system that tracks the sun throughout the day. It is the largest solar farm in Australia.
The Whitsunday Solar Farm is a solar farm located at Collinsville in North Queensland, Australia. It has a generating capacity of 57.5 megawatts. Operations commenced in 2018. The power station is jointly owned by Edify Energy and Wirsol. It is co-located at the same site as the Hamilton Solar Farm and the Daydream Solar Farm.
