Larrakia Development Corp’s $200m solar farm plan revealed

Larrakia Development Corporation has unveiled an ambitious plan to deliver a $200m investment at the Middle Arm project. Here’s what the business is planning for the Territory.

Larrakia Development Corporation has teamed up with a Korean power provider and a Perth-based renewables company to deliver 300 megawatts of solar power to Middle Arm.

At a signing ceremony in Perth last week, Larrakia Energy inked a memorandum of understanding with Korean energy provider Korea Midland Power (KOMIPO) and Perth-based Progressive Green Solutions to develop the $200m project.

If built, it will be the Territory’s largest solar farm and the biggest Aboriginal-owned solar farm in the country.

The project will now advance to the detailed design, specification and costing phase with work scheduled to start next year and power delivery to commence in 2024.

LDC chief executive Nigel Browne said discussions commenced with Progressive Green Solutions last year.

A giant new solar farm project is planned for Middle Arm.

He said KOMIPO would be a direct equity investor while supplying finance support, operations and maintenance and technical support.

Progressive Green Solutions will design and develop the project.

“This project is earmarked as just the beginning of Korean investment into the Territory,” Mr Browne said.

“This project is focused on direct connection to the gas plants at Middle Arm.”

“The farm is to be located in or near the Middle Arm area and this includes crown land as far away as the vicinity of Weddell.

“The farm can be built in separate sections and locations if required.”

Mr Browne said 6.1m panels would be used on a 400ha footprint.

The project is expected to employ 200 people during construction and 16 in the full-time operational phase.

“Supply is intended for INPEX and Darwin LNG and the project is not seeking to provide power to the local grid,” he said.

“Larrakia Energy is an LDC majority owned company and as well as share derived profits, LDC will provide labour through its growing labour hire service, with Larrakia front and centre for employment opportunities.”

LDC chairman Mark Motlop said the project rebooted the strong relationship the organisation shared with Inpex and Darwin LNG.

“By delivering affordable renewable energy and supporting Inpex and Darwin LNG’s goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we will play our part in helping to care for country,” he said.

Larrakia Energy is a joint venture between Larrakia Development Corporation and Perth resource and renewables company Progressive Green Solutions and is an LDC majority owned company.

KOMIPO is a power generation company and is part of the Korea Electric Power Corporation, a power generation utility majority owned by the South Korean Government.

Mr Browne expected financial investment decision for the first 150 megawatts by the final quarter of 2023 and project completion approximately a year later.

The NT Government, Inpex and Santos have been contacted for comment.