Genex and Stanwell To Develop Bulli Creek Solar Farm

Australian power producer Genex Power has signed a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Stanwell Corp, an energy company owned by Queensland Government, to develop the first phase of the 775 MW Bulli Creek solar and battery storage project.

Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo) also signed a five-year contract with Genex Power to deliver operations and maintenance (O&M) services for its 50 MW Kidston Solar Farm in Far North Queensland.  

As part of the PPA, Stanwell will purchase up to 550 MW from Bulli Creek Stage 1 Solar Farm, the first phase of a multi-stage development, which also includes up to 2 GW of solar and large-scale battery storage. 

Bulli Creek Stage 1 Solar Farm is being co-developed by Genex and J-Power, the Tokyo-listed energy giant Electric Power Development Co, and is set to become the largest grid connected solar farm in Australia once in operation.

The project is located 125 km south-west of Toowoomba in Queensland, and represents a significant step forward in the region’s energy transition, aimed at integrating more renewable energy into the electricity grid.

Up to 800 construction jobs will be created on the project which is due to commence in early 2025. A further 20 operational jobs will be created once complete. The necessary planning, environmental and heritage approvals have already been obtained, speeding up the development process.

Kidston Solar Farm

The Kidston Solar Farm contract marks SAMCo’s second solar O&M deal, providing four permanent roles at the site, supported by a travelling service technician team. 

SAMCo is scheduled to commence at Kidston in late October 2024 and will manage electricity operations, scheduled inspections, maintenance and repairs to all the panels, inverters and high voltage systems, routine cleaning of the panels to maximise electricity generation, grass and weed control in and around the site and maintenance of the fire break around the facility. 

Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said that the partnership with Genex is an essential element of Stanwell’s portfolio transformation and will accelerate the delivery of the company’s renewable energy pipeline in line with the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan. 

“This new power purchase agreement is another exciting step towards Stanwell’s target of 9 to 10 GW of renewable energy generation by 2035. SAMCo’s contract also locks in additional jobs in the renewable sector and showcases our ability to leverage our highly skilled workforce and experience to optimise the performance of renewable energy assets like those at Kidston Solar Farm,” he added.

Genex CEO Craig Francis said that they were delighted to expand the partnership with Stanwell as it continued to grow its portfolio of renewable generation and storage projects.

“The PPA will enable Genex to progress the project swiftly toward a final investment decision later this year, delivering 775 MW of new renewable energy capacity in Queensland from 2027,” he said.

More RE Projects

Stanwell, which owns coal-fired power stations with a total capacity of 2,845 MW, has already secured nearly 4,000 MW of renewable energy generation projects and storage capacity, currently operational, under construction or under development.

This development reflects a growing desire to integrate sustainable energy solutions into Australia’s energy mix. The agreement with Genex represents not only a breakthrough for both companies, but also a step forward for Australia’s renewable energy sector.