University of Technology Sydney signs solar PPA

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has confirmed a deal that will kick-start a new $40 million solar farm in regional NSW, signing a major commitment to buy energy generated on site. UTS has taken a revolutionary approach to energy management, in a deal that demonstrates the emerging commercial opportunities available to the renewable industry via direct links between renewable generators and users.

The commitment is via a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Walgett Solar Farm for the equivalent of half the university’s annual electricity demand. As well as allowing the solar farm to proceed, the agreement means UTS will benefit from a competitive fixed ongoing energy cost, with the potential for substantial savings over the life of the contract.

The 32 MW Walgett solar farm is being developed in stages by NSW-based renewable energy company Epuron, with construction expected to begin soon and first generation to commence in mid-2019. The Walgett Solar Farm will produce about 63,000 MWh a year of electricity once fully built, enough to power 9,600 NSW homes. Currently solar farms supply around 1 per cent of annual NSW electricity demand, with distributed rooftop solar providing an estimated 4 per cent annually on top of that.