The farm, developed by Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), is now generating enough electricity to power 15,000 average homes. Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, applauded the milestone achievement and welcomed other benefits the project also brought to the region.

“The Parkes electorate is an ideal location for solar energy, so I am very pleased Moree Solar Farm is now feeding power into the grid and a step closer to completion,” Mr Coulton said.

The project has been in the pipeline for more than six years, and is set to be completed in April.

“The project has had a lot of support from the community and has also been great for local job creation. During the construction phase, which commenced in March 2015, the solar plant created 150 jobs, with more than three quarters taken up by local workers

.“When complete, up to five full-time workers will operate and maintain the Moree Solar Farm over the course of its estimated 30 year operating life, while it gets on with the important work of generating solar power for Australian homes and businesses.”

The Moree Solar Farm received $101.7 million funding support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and $46 million in debt finance from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).

CEFC CEO, Oliver Yates, said that by taking an abundant natural renewable resource and harnessing it to provide clean energy for our cities, the Moree Solar Farm was demonstrating how solar was set to play a major role in transforming Australia’s energy future while diversifying our regional economy.

“The CEFC is pleased to see that each project built is more efficient and cost effective than the last and that this trend is continuing in Australia and around the world. As prices continue to fall, Australia will be able to tap this sustainable competitive resource to power the economy.”