Workforce of 350 praised for early completion of $500m Gladstone project

Power giant Stanwell is preparing to take 100 per cent of the output from a new 480MW Central Qld solar farm after it was completed seven months early.

Acciona Energia's solar farm at Gladstone has started generating power.

Queensland power giant Stanwell is preparing to plug into massive clean energy set to be generated from a recently completed $500m solar farm near Gladstone.

ACCIONA Energía managed to finish the Aldoga Solar Farm seven months ahead of schedule with Stanwell set to take 100 per cent of the solar farm’s 480MWp of clean electricity output by the end of the year, as it gradually connects to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

The solar farm has already exported its first 850kW of electricity into the National Electricity Market as part of its first steps in the commissioning process.

Then Premier Steven Miles with the workforce at the Aldoga Solar farm in Gladstone when construction began in April 2024. Pic Annette Dew

Stanwell Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Rourke said the first energy production at the Aldoga project marked an exciting milestone for Stanwell as it had signed a Power Purchase Agreement to take all of the solar farm’s output.

“This energy will be sold into the spotmarket or retailed to our commercial and industrial customers, ensuring that they receive affordable, reliable and sustainable energy, now and into the future,” said Mr O’Rourke.

“Stanwell is building a diversified energy portfolio of thermal and renewable energy. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ACCIONA Energía on this project and exploring many other opportunities with ACCIONA across Queensland.” 

ACCIONA Energía Managing Director Brett Wickham praised his workforce for delivering the project well ahead of schedule after work began in April 2024.

“We’ve delivered this milestone project safely and faster than expected. It’s a credit to the 350 men and women who have built it,” he said.

The project also included procuring up to $150m in goods and services from local businesses and suppliers while ACCIONA Energía also partnered with global solar equipment provider Nextracker to use tubing for solar panel mounts made from Australian steel at the Orrcon Steel facility in Northgate in Brisbane.

“We’re incredibly proud to be one of the foundation customers for Nextracker and Orrcon as they work to establish a long-term local steel and manufacturing supply chain for solar farms,” said Mr Wickham.

“Large scale solar projects are one of the fastest and most affordable means of delivering new electricity into the NEM.”

ACCIONA Energía said it would be investing back into the Gladstone community with a $120,000 annual community benefit fund made available to support various local programs and organisations.