Covering 664 acres and producing enough power to supply 65,000 Australian homes, senior representatives from Carlton & United Breweries (CUB), Flow Power and Beon Energy Solutions have joined BayWa r.e. to celebrate the official opening of its Karadoc Solar Farm.
The 112MW plant is the largest in Victoria and is a major step forward in Australia’s renewable transition. It has also made a significant contribution to the local economy, creating 300 jobs.
“We are very proud of what’s been achieved with our construction partners Beon Energy Solutions. And together we are now building the next 106 MW plant right next door at Yatpool,” said Benedikt Ortmann, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Solar Projects GmbH.
“Karadoc was delivered on time and on budget in under 12 months and made a major contribution to the local economy. The power supplied to CUB and Flow Power is now helping Australian business transition to renewables.”
The plants 330,000 photovoltaic cells convert Australia’s abundant sunlight into green power. Through a 12-year PPA, CUB will be supplied with 74,000 MWh per year of this power.
“This is a major step towards us achieving the ambitious target we set ourselves to have 100% of our purchased electricity sourced from renewables by 2025, a goal we are confident of achieving well before then,” CUB’s Sustainability Manger Kirsten Sturzaker said.
“We have a history stretching back 180 years, but if we want to be around for another 180 years, we need to create a sustainable world and a sustainable business.
“This partnership powers our company in a sustainable way while reducing our power costs and securing our supply for the long-term.”
A further 10-year PPA with Flow Power will supply the business energy retailer with 20MW of power and enable local businesses to access low-cost renewable energy.
“Today’s opening is a significant step in Flow Power’s commitment to bringing renewable power to Australian businesses”, said Flow Power Director, Engineering and Projects, David Evans.
“Karadoc is one of ten offtake agreements that we signed in 2018, and we are now able to offer wind and solar in each mainland NEM state to customers. We look forward to offering low cost renewable power to more businesses.”
The plant was constructed by Melbourne-based Beon Energy Solutions who explained during the tour about the contribution Karadoc has made to the regional economy.
“Victoria is becoming a renewable powerhouse and Beon is proud to be part of this transformation”, said Glen Thomson, General Manager Beon Energy Solutions.
“Karadoc created 300 construction jobs, including local jobs through our partnership with the Jobs Victoria Employment Network. An industry-first partnership with Sunraysia Institute of Technology and Further Education (SuniTAFE), also created 26 apprenticeships for locals from the region.”
Mildura Mayor Simon Clemence said it was pleasing Victoria is playing a leading role in Australia’s renewable energy transition. “It’s great to see our region being identified as an ideal location for renewable energy projects, and solar energy projects in particular. This is another example of Council’s support for this sector.”
While Karadoc is a milestone in Australia’s renewable transition, BayWa r.e. has already started construction of Karadoc’s sister project Yatpool, right next door in Mildura. At 600 acres and generating 106MWh, it is the next step in BayWa r.e.’s growth in Australia.
About BayWa r.e.
BayWa r.e. is a leading global developer, service supplier, wholesaler and energy solutions provider. We deliver renewable energy solutions worldwide, and have brought 2.5 GW of energy online, while managing 5 GW of assets. BayWa r.e is a leading supplier to the solar wholesale market and also has a rapidly growing energy trading business. Part of the €16 billion BayWa Group, every day we are working hard to find new solutions, push technological boundaries and actively shape the future of energy.
About Carlton & United Breweries
CUB is one of the most iconic beer companies Australia with a history dating back to 1832. We brew some of Australia’s most famous beers, including Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Crown Lager, Pure Blonde, Cascade, Great Northern as well as ciders including Mercury.
About Flow Power
Flow Power is a licensed wholesale electricity retailer that gives businesses a better way to buy power. Powered by advanced energy technology, Flow Power connects customers to the wholesale market to give data and signals that result in real cost savings. Flow Power offers flexibility and transparency every step of the way. In February 2018, Flow Power welcomed a major investor in the business Canadian Pension Fund, OPTrust.
About Beon Energy Solutions
Beon Energy Solutions is a leader in the deployment of large-scale renewable energy and infrastructure projects, with extensive expertise in design, financing and construction. Beon has an enviable track record of partnering with clients to reduce costs and project timelines, leading to faster commissioning without compromising safety and quality. Its clients include some of the largest electricity utilities, infrastructure developers, commercial and industrial companies and telecommunications network owners in Australia and overseas.
