First Solar starts construction on Australian 10MW PV farm

First Solar has begun construction on what will be Australia’s first utility-scale PV project.

The 10MW Greenough River Solar Farm will be built over a nine-month period, with local civil contractor WBHO Civil
providing Phase 1 construction services.

First Solar will be providing over 150,000 of its thin-film PV modules for the project, with delivery of the modules anticipated to begin in March 2012. The solar company is additionally providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the installation, which aims to reach full operation by mid-2012.

"We are also building our in-country supply chain network by procuring as many materials as possible from local suppliers at all stages of the construction process,"  said Jack Curtis, vice president of business development and sales for First Solar.

Western Australia state-owned power utility, Verve Energy, and GE Energy Financial Services each own 50% of the solar farm. The WA government is additionally offering AUD$20 million, including AUD$10 million from the WA Royalties for Regions program.