University of Queensland, First Solar to Build World Leading Research Centre

The University of Queensland (UQ) has signed a contract with First Solar (Australia) Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Solar, Inc. for the construction of a solar photovoltaic research facility at Gatton.

The 3.275 megawatt (MW) pilot plant – including more than 34,000 panels in a ground‐mounted array – will be Queensland’s largest solar power installation. First Solar will install its advanced, thin‐film cadmium telluride PV modules on a 12.6ha former airstrip site at UQ’s Gatton campus, 90km west of Brisbane.

A $40.7 million federal government grant, via the Education Investment Fund (EIF), is funding the Gatton installation. The project is also part of the Solar Flagships Program, administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Under the engineering, procurement and construction contract between UQ and First Solar, electricity is due to start flowing by the end of next year.

Peter Høj, UQ president and vice‐chancellor professor, said excellent UQ researchers underpinned UQ’s ability to attract industry and government partners, who would be critical to the success of this globally significant solar research project.

“Renewable energy research needs to be interdisciplinary and industry‐integrated, to produce optimal results that are practical, efficient and attractive for industry and communities,” he said.
“UQ’s reputation for excellent researchers in areas including physics, engineering and sustainability helped secure the necessary buy‐in from key industry leaders and government bodies.
“This will in turn drive outputs that can be taken up by industry, communities and governments.

“We are delighted to be partnering with The University of Queensland in delivering its new PV research facility,” said Jack Curtis, First Solar’s vice president of business development for Asia Pacific. “First Solar is committed to ensuring that learnings are fully leveraged to increase Australian innovation in solar power generation, to continue to facilitate a more viable and advanced utility‐scale solar PV industry in Australia. The Australian local solar industry is gaining momentum with the recent financial close of our two utility‐scale projects in Nyngan and Broken Hill in NSW. The knowledge gained through the construction and operation of large‐scale, grid‐connected solar power stations will help solar energy play a greater role in meeting Australia’s electricity needs.”