APA signs up offtaker for second 44-MW stage of Queensland solar project

Australian energy infrastructure company APA Group (ASX:APA) will move ahead with a second 44-MW stage of the Mica Creek solar project in Queensland after signing up a second customer.

APA said on Friday it has taken a final investment decision (FID) to build stage two as it has inked a variation to the existing offtake agreement with existing APA customer Mount Isa Mines Ltd, part of Glencore (LON:GLEN).

Subscribe for Renewables Now's Corporate PPA Newsletter here for free!

Just last month APA announced FID on stage one and a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with MMG Dugald River for the output of the initial 44 MW.

APA is seeing strong interest from customers and is studying a potential expansion for a third stage, according to today’s announcement.

With the second stage, APA will invest a total of around AUD 150 million USD (108.2m/EUR 95.5m) in the 88-MW solar farm which is expected to be up and running by the middle of 2023.

It will be built in Mount Isa, North West Minerals Province, on land leased from the Queensland government near APA’s Diamantina combined-cycle gas turbine power complex.

“This investment will support APA’s vision for a world-leading hybrid energy grid in Mount Isa and our aspiration to support the further increase of renewable energy penetration for the region,” said APA chief executive and managing director Rob Wheals.

(AUD 1 = USD 0.721/EUR 0.636)