Canadian TransAlta seeks to build 150-MW Aussie PV plant - report

Canada’s TransAlta Corp (TSE:TA) plans to construct a 150-MW photovoltaic (PV) park in the Aussie state of New South Wales (NSW), Renew Economy said Thursday, citing a company official.

The Canadian wind major will join hands with Renewable Energy Consultancy (REC), which will handle site identification and project development. The solar farm, to be located near the town of Parkes, will be the first of a series of Australian PV projects with capacities ranging from 10 MW to 200 MW, for which the two companies are gearing up, REC director, Colin Liebmann, was cited as saying.

Calgary-based TransAlta will build, own and operate this facility, as well as any future part of its partnership with REC, after the development phase has been wrapped up and all commercial arrangements are in place. The planning process, as well as discussions with domestic transmission system operator TransGrid, have already been initiated for the inaugural Parkes solar complex, according to the report.

TransAlta wants to build up a solar portfolio in the eastern Australian states and in Western Australia, where it already has 640 MW of gas-fired generators, Renew Economy noted, quoting business development manager in Perth, Liz Cussans. The company’s PV operations so far include 21 MW of small-scale systems in the US.

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