Engineering, construction and procurement underway by EMC/Lendlease Services JV First investment in a renewable energy project by Indigenous Business Australia and Bookitja Carnegie Clean Energy Limited (ASX: CCE) is pleased to advise that it has commenced construction of the Northam Solar Farm project, marking the occasion with a sod turning ceremony attended by the Hon. Ben Wyatt, West Australian Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy and Aboriginal Affairs.
The Northam Solar Farm is a significant development for Carnegie: it is the largest solar project the company has developed and the first utility renewable energy project to be developed on a "merchant" basis in Western Australia where the power is not contracted under a long term offtake agreement.
It is the also the first renewable investment by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and Bookitja. Carnegie retains a 50% interest in the solar farm and is the asset manager. The project is being delivered by the EMC/Lendlease Services joint venture, with engineering, construction and procurement underway, and will complete in the second half of 2018, when it will also begin selling power into the Western Australian grid.
Carnegie CEO Michael Ottaviano; Cedric Jacobs, Elder, Perth Noongar Foundation; and Hon. Ben Wyatt, Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Energy, Aboriginal Affairs at the Ground Breaking Ceremony Carnegie's Managing Director, Dr Michael Ottaviano, commented:
"We are delighted to have Western Australian Treasurer and Minister for Energy Ben Wyatt officially break ground on the Northam Solar Farm today, and celebrate the renewable investment partnership we have with Indigenous Business Australia.
"The Northam Solar Farm has been developed as a template for future projects where Carnegie receives value from multiple revenue streams including electricity sales and project construction, operating and maintenance."
Eddie Fry, Chair of IBA said:
"IBA is very excited to be getting behind this project and helping to bring it to life as it is one of the first large scale solar projects in the country with Indigenous ownership."
Karen Jacobs, Director of Bookitja said:
"The Bookitja Pty Ltd is excited to be an active party to the Northam Solar Farm. As an Aboriginal entity our invested interest in this ground breaking project will continue our focus on building economic growth for our community".
About Northam Solar Farm
The Build, Own and Operate 10 MW Northam Solar Farm (NSF), is located in the town of Northam 90km east of Perth in Western Australia. Once constructed it will consist of approximately 34,000 solar panels constructed on 25 Hectares of strategically located land to deliver approximately 24,000 MWh of electricity per annum for at least the next 25 years. With the recent construction of the 20MW Emu Downs Solar Farm, NSF, will be the equal second largest solar farm in WA along with Synergy's Greenough River solar farm. The NSF will also be utility scale battery storage ready. This will be the first large scale solar project to be delivered by the EPC Joint Venture between Carnegie Clean Energy's wholly owned subsidiary Energy Made Clean and leading property and infrastructure company Lendlease.
About Carnegie Clean Energy Limited
Carnegie Clean Energy Limited is an Australian, ASX-listed (ASX: CCE) wave energy technology developer and solar/battery microgrid project developer. Carnegie is the 100% owner and developer of the CETO Wave Energy Technology intellectual property and is also 100% owner of leading Australian battery/solar microgrid Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) company Energy Made Clean (EMC). EMC specialises in the delivery of mixed renewable energy microgrid projects to islands and remote and fringe of grid communities. Carnegie is the only company in the world to offer a combination of wave, solar, wind, storage and desalination via microgrids which are ideally suited to islands, off grid communities and fringe of grid locations.
About Indigenous Business Australia
IBA is a commercially focused organisation. Our vision is for a nation in which the First Australians are economically independent and an integral part of the economy.
Economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is at the heart of what we do. Our programs assist Indigenous Australians to buy their own homes, be successful in business and invest in commercial ventures that provide strong financial returns.
We're deeply invested in the financial success and economic independence of our customers and partners at every step of their journey - it's why we exist.
About Bookitja
Bookitja is an incorporated association registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 1987 (WA) with a primary objective to engage in major enterprise acquisition and economic development projects, to provide a sustainable economic base for future generations of Whadjuk people in the Perth region.
About EMC/Lendlease Services Joint Venture
Energy Made Clean operates in a 50/50 Unincorporated Joint Venture Agreement with Lendlease's Services business. This JVA is providing opportunities for EMC to increase its capacity to bid for and deliver a broader range of solar, BESS and microgrid opportunities within Australia, including increased access to the National Energy Market (NEM), leveraging Lendlease's national footprint across Australia. Lendlease's Services business has approximately 3,000 people and has a presence in every Australian state and territory.
Click here to read the full press release.
For more information:
Dr Michael Ottaviano
CEO & Managing Director
Carnegie Clean Energy Limited
+61 8 6168 8400
enquiries@carnegiece.com
www.carnegiece.com
