http://www.northweststar.com.au/story/4301550/progress-on-normanton-solar-farm/?cs=191
Construction of a solar farm in Normanton reached a milestone this week with completion of 16,000 solar panels. Photo John Brisbin.
The Normanton Solar Farm celebrated a major construction milestone this week, with completion of 16,000 solar panels.
Sixteen workers took around a month to install the panels, part of the project which is taking shape on 7.2 hectares next door to the Ergon Energy power sub-station in the remote Gulf Savannah community.
Developer Doug Scouller, Scouller Energy, who is partnering with Canadian Solar on the project, said the focus had turned to installing DC trenches, while the high voltage cables had also been completed.
“The panels collect the power, and all of the power is sent from the panels to the inverter where it is converted from DC to AC,” Mr Scouller said.
“It then travels to the transformer and then the sub-station.”
Mr Scouller said the project remained on track for a mid-January 2017 commissioning. He said there were about 30 people employed on the project.
The Normanton Solar Farm will provide enough electricity to run the townships of Normanton and Karumba and the immediate surrounds of Normanton.
It is expected to be the first solar farm in Far north Queensland to come online. Others are under construction throughout the region, including one at Lakeland.
An aerial shot taken from a drone of the Normanton Solar Farm. Photo John Brisbin.