Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), part of Saudi-based Abdul Latif Jameel Energy (ALJ), a leader in renewable energy projects, said that its latest project in Australia, the Lilyvale solar plant, is now up and running.

The 100 MW ac project produced its first Kwh of energy last month and is expected to reach full capacity in the coming months following a testing phase. Located in the Queensland Central Highlands region, the Lilyvale solar plant will generate enough power to supply 45,000 homes, while avoiding the emission of 175,000 tons of CO2 per year. This is the fourth project connected by the company in Australia, with a total of 276 MW AC under operation

Lilyvale is the second large-scale solar installation of FRV in Queensland. FRV signed a PPA with Ergon Energy Retail for the full plant capacity in January 2017. The project was financed in September 2017 with a group of banks comprising the Banking Group of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), the Bank of Tokyo and Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd (MUFG) and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).

Carlo Frigerio, managing director of FRV in Australia, said: "Australia continues to be a key market worldwide for renewable energy investments. With projects like Lilyvale, FRV is delighted to participate to the country's ongoing energy transformation and transition to sustainability and care for the environment.”

Fady Jameel, deputy president and vice chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, said: "We are proud to announce this project milestone, and to be contributing to Australia’s drive for clean energy. Australia is a strong and promising market for FRV and Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, and we see significant potential to expand investment in the years ahead and spearhead the development of the sector in the country and further afield.”

“Abdul Latif Jameel Energy has committed to significantly expanding FRV’s international operations, with plans to invest $900 million in 2019 alone, and the longer term goal of increasing the total installed capacity of our projects around the world over eight-fold in the next five years, from 0.7 GW at the beginning of 2019 to 5.8 GW by 2024,”he added.

FRV has developed a total of six solar operating or committed projects in Australia with an accumulated investment of around $0.7 billion since 2012: Royalla (20 MW AC) in the Australian Capital Territory, Moree (56 MW AC) in New South Wales, Clare (100 MW AC) and Lilyvale (100MW AC) in Queensland, Goonumbla (67.8 MW AC) in New South Wales and Winton (85 MW AC) in Victoria.

 Abdul Latif Jameel Energy was formed in 2012, and today is a leading, independent power producer, and a premier service provider of operations and maintenance in the renewable energy sector, with interests in 16 countries worldwide with capabilities in renewable energy including solar photovoltaic, wind, waste-to-energy, and environmental solutions including desalination, water and waste water treatment. – TradeArabia News Service