Rockhampton’s $6.3m solar farm for Glenmore Water Treatment plant delayed
It was supposed to be up and running by the end of October but a fault has pushed back the solar farm — supposed to save ratepayers $500,000 a year — until 2025.
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A technical requirement has delayed the commissioning of a $6.3m solar farm at the Glenmore Water Treatment plant that once operational could shave $500,000 off its power costs for Rockhampton ratepayers.
A report tabled at last week’s regional council infrastructure committee meeting said Ergon Energy required the “installation of an automatic interlock system to prevent feedback into the grid”.
The report said council was working on a solution with Ergon Energy to meet the additional requirement for new solar farms, implemented in February 2023.
Council has previously stated the 1.3MW project will knock between 30 per cent and 50 per cent off the Glenmore plant’s $1m per year electricity bill.
The report said the solar farm project completion date was October 31 (construction started in 2021) however council’s water committee chair Edward Oram today said the solar facility was still in its final stages.
“More than 2500 solar panels have been installed by our contractor GEM Energy Australia, with Council working with a supplier and contractor to finalise the installation of the switchboard and necessary safety instruments,” he said.
“As council’s first major solar project, we’ve been working closely with Ergon to install not only the solar panels, but the new technologies required to regulate and manage solar input into our network.
Cr Oram said you could compare the interlock system to a backflow device that stops water from flowing back into the Rockhampton water network.
“There’s been lessons for both organisations in that and we’re now putting in place those leanings into our airport solar project currently in development.
“We’re focused on how we can reduce our operational costs through savings made by generating our own solar power while making our facilities and operations more sustainable.”
The Morning Bulletin understands the facility will probably start operating early next year.
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Originally published as Rockhampton’s $6.3m solar farm for Glenmore Water Treatment plant delayed
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