Spanish renewable energy developer Acciona Energia has started commercial operations of its 380-megawatt Aldoga solar farm near Gladstone in Queensland.
The AU$500 million solar farm is now operating at full capacity and will generate electricity equivalent to the annual consumption of approximately 185,000 households.
It will avoid around 934,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, which is comparable to removing 360,000 combustion vehicles from the roads.
The power output of Aldoga will be bought by Queensland’s state-owned energy company Stanwell Corp., under a 15-year power purchase agreement.
The start of commercial operations comes just 20 months after works officially started in August 2024.
Gavin Reymond, Managing Director, ACCIONA Energía Australia, said: “Completing the Aldoga Solar Farm ahead of schedule is a testament to the strong collaboration with local partners.
“As a renewable energy project developer, owner and operator, ACCIONA Energía is proud to contribute to Queensland’s energy transition with a utility-scale asset that delivers clean power, regional employment, and long-term community investment.”
Acciona said the construction of Aldoga created 350 local jobs and will now employ 15 people to permanently operate and maintain.
The solar farm also contributed to infrastructure upgrades, such as Flynn Road, while also funding individual projects in education, healthcare and cultural development.
Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Stanwell Corporation said: “We are proud to partner with ACCIONA Energía on the Aldoga Solar Farm and congratulate them on this important milestone.
“Stanwell has built a diversified energy portfolio of thermal and renewable energy supported by storage assets.
“As demand continues to grow across the state, we will continue to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for all of Queensland.”
The Aldoga solar farm is just the start of Acciona’s growth strategy in Australia. The company has almost 2GW of renewable energy installed or under construction, across wind and solar technologies in Australia.
It is currently commissioning the 923MW MacIntyre Wind Farm in Queensland, one of the largest wind farms in the southern hemisphere.