Global energy and electricity provider Iberdrola’s first wind-solar hybrid project in the world, Port Augusta, enters the full generation phase with the onset of its commissioning after being registered in the National Electricity Market Registry by the Australian Energy Market Operator.
This renewable facility is the largest wind-solar hybrid farm in the southern hemisphere, comprising 50 wind turbines and 250,000 solar panels. It can generate 210 MW of wind and 107 MW of photovoltaic power.
The plant will prevent the emission of 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually into the atmosphere. In addition, it will be able to generate enough clean energy to supply the equivalent demand of 180,000 Australian households.
According to Iberdrola, the project has generated 200 jobs during construction and has involved local, global and Spanish suppliers. Specifically, the Spanish company Elecnor was responsible for building the plant’s substation, transmission line, storage areas, and access roads. In addition, Vestas has manufactured and installed the 50 wind turbines of 4.2 MW unit capacity in the wind farm; Longi has supplied the solar panels for the photovoltaic plant, and Sterling&Wilson has been in charge of its construction.
Pouring an investment of A$500 million in this project, Iberdrola has also acquired the rights to the world’s largest wind farm at Mount James, with 1,000 MW, the 360 MW Broadsound photovoltaic power station in Queensland. Iberdrola is today a world leader in renewable energies, with close to 39,000 MW of renewable capacity installed worldwide. The company plans to invest up to 3 billion euros in the Australian energy market, intending to reach 4,000 MW of renewable energy in the coming years contributing to achieving South Australia’s ambitious targets to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030.