The Australian federal government has approved a 300-MW solar park project, which includes a battery storage component, in Queensland. The permit pertains to the Cambridge Solar Farm, developed by Cambridge JMD Australia, a subsidiary of alternative fund manager Cambridge RE Partners.
Located approximately 80 km south of Townsville, the photovoltaic (PV) farm is expected to generate enough electricity to power around 123,000 local homes annually, while also reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 670,000 tons. The facility will utilize existing transmission infrastructure for grid connectivity.
With a direct current (DC) capacity of 400 MW, the project is estimated to cost AUD 650 million (USD 442.5 million/EUR 397.6 million) and represents the first phase of a larger gigawatt-scale development. The construction phase is anticipated to create around 400 job opportunities.
Site preparation for the Cambridge Solar Farm is slated to commence in late 2025, with the plant expected to begin operations by the end of 2026.
