X-Elio and Salesforce sign PPA for 200 MW solar project in Australia

X-ELIO has signed a landmark virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Salesforce for 200 MW Blue Grass Solar Farm in Queensland, its first renewable energy offtake agreement in Australia. The 10-year Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) is estimated to effectively displace 80,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year over the life of the agreement.

For Salesforce, the VPPA supports its objective to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2022. Under the agreement, the Blue Grass project will supply generation certificates to meet Salesforce’s renewable energy requirements.

The Blue Grass Solar Farm is X-ELIO’s first and largest solar farm development in Australia. The 200MW utility scale farm is currently in construction, with full operation expected in late 2021.

The project will deliver 420 GWh of green energy annually, powering 80,000 Queensland homes and offsetting more than 320,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. It will also create up to 400 new construction jobs and deliver more than AUD200 million (US$142.61 million) capital investment in Queensland.

The Blue Grass Solar Farm project represents X-ELIO’s long-term interests in Australia where it plans to leverage its 15 years experience as a global leader in the development, construction and operation of solar PV projects, having built more than 2 GW solar PV plants and with 25 plants currently in operation across 10 markets globally.

In addition to the economic and social benefits of the project for the region, X-ELIO will dedicate a percentage of the Blue Grass Solar Farm’s annual gross income to a Community Support and Benefit Sharing Program.