Solar farms in Australia

The sun as a renewable energy source

Solar Farms in Australia

An overview

At EE, solar farms are our bread and butter. We work with landowners and communities to integrate each project into the local landscape. In the video to the left, you can learn some basic information about solar farms and their components. We explore some more details below, but should you want some more information please reach out to our development team through the link below.

Contact the Australian project team

Renting or selling your farmland

Are you as a landowner interested in partnering on a solar project?

Solar farms can offer reliable, drought proof assets that diversify the use of your land and offer steady income for years to come. Small livestock can also graze on land containing solar panels. Sheep are commonly used in this way, and this practice can help maintain grass length under panels. When you partner with EE, we can offer stable leases providing rental payments for the use of your land. Should you be more interested in selling your land, we can also offer above market pricing to acquire it. In either instance, you will be partnering with an organisation that has a successful track record of developing, constructing and operating hundreds of solar and wind projects across the world.

Read more about your opportunities as a landowner

Business partnerships with European Energy Australia

Are you a business interested in partnering on solar?

European Energy Australia is always interested to hear from businesses looking to partner on projects and opportunities in the renewable energy space. We have a successful track record of productive and positive business partnerships, both within Australia and abroad. You can get in touch with our project team below.

Contact the Australian project team

Solar projects in Australia

We have over 5GW under development in Australia. Some of these projects are featured below.

Solar | Victoria

Mokoan Solar Farm

56MW solar farm located in northern Victoria in Winton. Click below to visit the project page for Mokoan Solar Farm, EE’s first project to enter construction in Australia.

Mokoan Solar Farm

Solar | Queensland

Upper Calliope Solar Farm

1.3GW solar farm currently under development to provide solar power to the Gladstone Region, Queensland. Click below to see more information on the project.

Upper Calliope Solar Farm

Solar | Queensland

Sawpit Solar Farm

Located near Biloela in Queensland, this solar farm will provide approximately 1GW to the region. Click below to see more information on the project.

Sawpit Solar Farm

Q&A answering concerns and advantages about solar projects

How much space does a solar farm require?

We typically look for sites of 60ha or more, but the ideal scale of a farm in a specific area will be dependent on many factors. An ideal site would contain fairly flat land without significant vegetation and would be relatively close to existing electricity transmission infrastructure.

How will the local community benefit?

As part of European Energy’s commitment to active involvement with local stakeholders, benefit sharing strategies are carefully considered and implemented for each project. These are tailored to the wants and needs of the communities in which our projects are built. For example, EE provides employment opportunities as much as possible to local contractors and suppliers, thereby contributing to local development and capacity building.

Do solar farms negatively impact flora and fauna?

Solar farms are generally located in cleared areas to avoid impacts. The environmental impact of the project will be thoroughly assessed in the Environmental Impact Statement that is prepared during the development phase of the project. Environmental surveys will be conducted, ensuring that all flora and fauna are identified and properly retained, treated or relocated.

Will solar panels generate glare or glint?

Glare can occur from surfaces that reflect the sun. For example, solar glare can be experienced from water, snow, and even the rural environment and grass. Solar panels are coated with an anti-glare layer which helps to reduce the level of glare from their surface. They are also designed to absorb as much light as possible, this being fundamental to their function. While all this works well, it does not completely eliminate glare. However, the intensity of this glare is moderate. A study from 2011[1] found solar glare to be less intense than all of the above examples.

Even so, glare and glint is carefully considered in the Environmental Impact Statement which details any risk minimisation measures that will need to be undertaken to minimise glare to any relevant roadways, houses, airstrips etc.

[1] Spaven, C. (2011). Solar photovoltaic energy facilities: assessment of potential for impact on aviation. Spaven Consulting.